He sat in court at 6 years old. Now he is helping other children feel seen

“The Kid in the Courtroom,” a children’s picture book that explores how children are impacted by the legal system through a personal and emotional lens, blossomed from one University of Detroit Mercy student's childhood experience.  

Cayden Brown just finished his freshman year as a Criminal Justice major with minors in African American Studies and Leadership. In addition to being a student, Brown is an accomplished public speaker, child rights defender, award-winning activist and CEO of The Trespass Project, a global nonprofit that helps youth access and navigate the legal system. 

“As I got older and began working in juvenile diversion programs, representing first-time minor-offending youth, I realized that my story was not rare,” Brown said. “So many children sit in the middle of courtrooms for many different reasons.” 

“The Kid in the Courtroom” follows the story of a young boy named Justice as he searches for his voice during a custody battle. 

According to Brown, Justice represents all children who are empathetic, sensitive, thoughtful and deeply impacted by what is happening around them. 

“My favorite part of the book is the moment when Justice realizes he is not the only one,” Brown said. “There is something that only children who have felt alone can explain about discovering that what they are going through is not just happening to them.” 

The story mirrors Brown’s own experiences. Raised in Detroit, Brown is familiar with the inadequacies of the court system and the experience of being a child affected by it. He recalled being 6 years old and sitting in court while his parents went through a divorce. He said he often felt left out and voiceless during the process. 

“I remember being very young and trying to make sense of the adult language, the legal decisions, the courtroom, the custody, visitation and family changes that were all impacting me most, but were not always explained to me or considerate of my opinion before they were final,” Brown said. 

The goal in writing the book was to reach children where they are and let them know they are not alone. 

“A children’s book can sit beside a child at bedtime, in a classroom, in a counselor’s office or in a family conversation and say, ‘You are not invisible. What you feel matters, and your voice belongs here most," Brown said. 

Brown said the writing and creative process felt like going back in time and became a transformational experience that was both healing and deeply personal. 

“I was not creating a fictional story,” Brown said. “I was returning to memory, images, questions and feelings that had stayed with me since childhood. I had to think carefully about how to tell the truth of that experience in a way that was honest, but still safe and accessible for children.” 

Because the project is a picture book, Brown said one of the biggest creative challenges was ensuring the illustrations accurately reflect the story.  

“So much of the story lives in what the child sees and feels before he has words for it,” Brown said. “Every single visual moment is drawn to truth, not scale. I sent back more than 40 rounds of revisions to make sure we got it right.” 

Brown hopes readers understand the book is not meant to criticize parents or blame adults. 

“I also want people to understand that ‘The Kid in the Courtroom’ is not an anti-parent book, an anti-court book or a book that blames adults,” Brown said. “It is a book that invites adults to listen more carefully. Most adults are trying their best, especially in difficult family situations. But even when adults are doing their best, children can still feel unheard. This book creates room for that truth without shame. 

“The Kid in the Courtroom is the beginning of a larger conversation I hope we continue having in homes, schools, courtrooms, libraries and communities everywhere.” 

“The Kid in the Courtroom,” is available worldwide across 40,000 retailers, bookstores, libraries and schools. A full list of major retailers is available at TrespassProject.com/Books. 

Proceeds from the book directly benefit The Trespass Project.