Cayden Brown is sweeping the juvenile court system at the age of sixteen as a juvenile defense attorney. He has been featured on several media platforms, such as Black Enterprise, NBC, and The National Black Lawyers Top 100, among many others. He is unrelenting in his defense and advocacy of young people. Born in Michigan’s Southfield at a young age, Cayden knew what he wanted to do. Cayden founded The Trespass Project, a bold non-profit that tackles social problems and breaks down the obstacles that prevent young minorities from accessing power. He is a fearless advocate for social justice who explores complex issues and inspires people of different backgrounds to join him in creating a fairer court system. His vibrant spirit shines through his work. Sitting in the courtroom and watching his parents argue during a divorce proceeding, he experienced the sorrow firsthand. Cayden never wanted any child to face injustice or anything similar to what he went through. He is committed to pursuing his career since he is passionate about it and feels it is his calling.

“I like to pull from the quote of Caroline Wanga. “Informal, but not incompetent.” I like to defy a lot of conventional stigmas and barriers. So, my journey into the legal realm actually started a very long time ago. A lot of people ask me how I got into law, but law got into me. At only six years old, my parents underwent a divorce, which caused my family and home to be severed. It was such a fractured reality. I immediately knew there was something wrong with the legal system due to the way I was being dealt with as a human. I hated it; it felt so impersonal that I felt like a case number, and I’m only six years old. I imagined all the other millions of children who are suffering the same or worse. So, I knew I would become someone who had to do something in law and defend children,” said Brown.

Through the Oakland County Teen Court Program and a hands-on legal education at his school, the Oakland County Teen Court is a program that diverts young offenders from the court system and gives them a chance to be judged by their peers. The teen defendant faces a jury and a prosecutor made up of other teens who decide their fate. Cayden recognized the chance to transform the system from the inside out. He jumped on board without hesitation to make a difference in the lives of young people and the world that surrounds them.

“I got appointed to be a juvenile defense attorney for a misdemeanor theft case. It was supposed to be a one-time thing, but after I won, he kept appointing me, and I kept winning, and I never lost,” said Brown.

Cayden is inspired to fight with all of his strength to release the children after witnessing their anguished faces as they enter the courtroom. Cayden believes giving these kids another alternative rather than sending them to a detention center will give them hope in the court system. Even though his line of work isolates him from his friends, he knows it’s worth it. While they hang out and engage in typical teenage activities, he is getting ready for his next court appearance. He realizes how being unique typically has more benefits than drawbacks.

“I have been dealing with this for sixteen years. I have always been different in some facets, and some dimensions of me have always taken me away from the masses. Recent self-discovery and talking to people in my family who are also multi-gifted have made me come to terms with what comes with being gifted. Having a calling in your life is supposed to separate you. I must admit, it is hard. Sometimes I do want to separate from that and fit in. But I understand that if I fit in, disparities and injustice will also fit in that same arena. So, my calling is a blessing and a curse,” said Brown.

Cayden commands respect when he walks in the door because of his demeanor and proven courtroom acumen. He shows up ready and won’t back down.

“One thing I always say about being so young in this unconventional space is that it at least makes people pay attention. When I step into courtrooms and speak the way I speak, and if I’m standing in my authenticity, as you said, I’m wise beyond my years. Sometimes I do feel like I’m not getting respect. I also understand that I’m still on a journey. I try to remind myself that I’m still not at the stage where I deserve all the respect I think I do. I’m still a kid, and I have a lot to learn. So, I take it for what it is,” said Brown.

Cayden even considered suicide at one point in his childhood. He felt alone and alienated, and he did not know what his calling was. His life transformed when he realized the plan God had for him. He was then able to embrace who he was. 

“No one ever asks me how my mental health is dealing with the burdens of other lives. But it is my calling; I was placed on this earth to reform injustices, systems of oppression, and systems that have been systemically written in a different language. I have believed it’s my job and my purpose since the age of six and have known that God put this in my heart. He allowed me to go through that pain so I could bring others out of it. That resilience weaves a tapestry that is very strong, so, concerning my mental health, I’m good. God has given me the resources to be able to do so and still survive,” said Brown.

Cayden Brown has demonstrated his ability to handle any case with determination and preparation, which has led him to become a successful criminal defense attorney at a young age. He is passionate about representing young people in the courtroom and has found fulfillment in doing so. He shared that “sacrificing pieces of himself allows them to be free.”

Photography Credit: Liana Garcia