Georgia's top judge appealed Friday to the General Assembly to begin funding the state's juvenile courts for the first time.

Appropriating money for a statewide juvenile court system would ensure that children --- victims and offenders alike --- receive better treatment, Chief Justice Robert Benham of the Georgia Supreme Court told lawmakers.

Funding for juvenile courts "remains a local responsibility with local governments shouldering the burden of operating judicial facilities," Benham said. He spoke to a joint legislative session during his annual State of the Judiciary address.

"No other budget item would produce the benefits to this state" as the Juvenile Court proposal, he said. "It would allow us to remove dangerous juveniles from society and provide treatment and rehabilitation for thousands of salvageable young people. The courts must be able to safeguard children when parents cannot or will not."

Although it funds other civil and criminal courts, the state has never funded juvenile courts. Of the 159 counties in Georgia, 22 have full-time juvenile judges, according to the Georgia Supreme Court Child Placement Project. In another 44 counties, judges handle juvenile cases part time. The remaining 93 counties assign Superior Court judges to preside over juvenile cases. About 20,000 juvenile cases are heard a year statewide.

The House last year passed a bill mandating state funding for juvenile courts. But the Senate has not yet acted on the measure, House Bill 182.

In the budget proposal he presented Tuesday, Gov. Roy Barnes asked lawmakers to dramatically increase juvenile justice spending. His proposals for new funding include almost $6.4 million to reimburse counties for paying Juvenile Court judges and $3.4 million to hire 48 juvenile court prosecutors.

Benham also used his speech to pledge that the judicial system will try to increase public trust in the courts. However, he said, the courts must maintain their independence.

"Because we must remain impartial, we must be less accessible," Benham said. "Our decisions and process are not subject to outside influence. . . . (But) we are not oblivious to criticisms of the court system."