However, in California, the right to a jury trial remains unavailable to juveniles. The continued denial of this right is inappropriate and unfair. In the context of the origins and development of the juvenile justice system, a quid pro quo system was established wherein a minor's due process rights were exchanged for the protection and rehabilitative efforts of the juvenile courts. However, juvenile courts have failed in these purposes, particularly with the strong trend toward criminalization of California delinquency proceedings. Because modern delinquency proceedings are adversarial and resemble adult criminal trials, the continued denial of a right to jury trial for juveniles can no longer be justified. Therefore, the State legislature should intervene and afford youth this essential right. Legislative intervention is necessary in the face of judicial inaction. Accordingly, the California Legislature is urged to amend the Welfare and Institutions Code to resolve this issue. 186 footnotes.