Lead Analysis

Judge mixes law with social services
BY JAY WEAVER
jweaver@MiamiHerald.com
Her shoebox of a courtroom is crammed with child-welfare lawyers, social workers and families with crying babies.
Circuit Court Judge Jeri Beth Cohen is in her element, checking on the treatment of a drug-addicted mother whose 7-year-old son with Down syndrome lives with grandparents because the father is in jail.

This lead uses the scene-setter technique, putting the reader in a situation in which Judge Cohen apparently deals frequently with. It paints a vivid picture of the scene of social dysfunction that is to be a main topical concern of the article. This lead also has a human interest element to it. By describing one of the cases with which Judge Cohen has dealt, it provides a good segway into the human interest element of the rest of the story, which involves a custody battle much like the Elián González case seven years ago. The lead is effective and does a good job of giving an general idea of what this story is going to cover. here is a link to the story
http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/58881.html