Dr. Paige Schultz to present at the Gault Center’s Southern Youth Defender Center Regional Summit at Emory University School of Law

On June 6, 2026, Dr. Schultz and a veteran youth defense attorney will co-present: Okay, Boomer: The Psychology of Words in Youth Defense. This training focuses on the intersection of adolescent development, psychology, trauma, disability, and communication within juvenile legal settings. Developmental stage, trauma exposure, disability, and generational differences can all shape how young people express themselves, process information, and respond under stress. Participants will explore how youth communication is often misunderstood or misinterpreted by professionals involved in juvenile cases and other authority-driven environments and will examine common communication patterns among adolescents (i.e., inconsistency, minimization, slang usage, humor, guarded responses, and emotional disengagement). Participants will also examine how youth interpret adult language in high-stakes settings, particularly when they feel pressured, fearful, or confused. Through practical strategies and applied examples, youth defenders will strengthen their communication skills, reduce misinterpretation, preserve the integrity of youth statements, and strengthen legal advocacy.

Named after the landmark United States Supreme Court case In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1 (1967), the Gault Center is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of children involved in the legal system through training, advocacy, and support for youth defenders nationwide. The organization works to promote fair treatment of youth in legal settings and to ensure developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed advocacy for children facing court involvement. The Southern Youth Defender Conference brings together attorneys, psychologists, advocates, and juvenile justice professionals from across the region to discuss emerging issues, practical strategies, and best practices in youth defense and juvenile advocacy.