The US-inspired courts, which involve young offenders facing a panel of their peers, are still some way off, according to Mark McCausland, operations director for Liverpool Youth Offending Team.
"There was some uproar from the judiciary on how this would work," said McCausland, who is on the centre's steering group.
"Young people could become role models for young offenders and we might work towards measures like this. Perhaps in a couple of years we could have a young person sitting next to the judge to help determine the treatment handed out."
McCausland said the pressure to open the centre, which is the first of its kind in the UK, this December and the lack of legislation enabling peer courts meant that plans had to be put on hold. New York's Red Hook Community Justice Center was the inspiration for both the centre and the peer court.
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