<![CDATA[This article examines the reformulation of the application of the best interests of the child principle in judicial decisions concerning cases of violence committed by children against other children. The study focuses on the judicial reasoning adopted by the Samarinda District Court in Decision No. 18/Pid.Sus-Anak/2023/PN Smr, Decision No. 26/Pid.Sus-Anak/2024/PN Smr, and Decision No. 15/Pid.Sus-Anak/2025/PN Smr. This research employs a doctrinal legal method using statutory, conceptual, case, and comparative approaches. Legal materials were analysed qualitatively through an examination of legislation, court decisions, international legal instruments, legal doctrines, and recent scholarly literature. The findings indicate that judicial reasoning has incorporated both juridical and non-juridical considerations concerning child offenders, particularly their age, family background, social environment, behaviour, and recommendations contained in the Community Research Report. However, the circumstances and recovery needs of child victims have not been addressed with equal consideration. This article proposes a reformulated judicial framework comprising an assessment of the circumstances of both children, identification of the impact on the victim, meaningful child participation, victim recovery, rehabilitative measures for child offenders, and a balancing assessment to ensure a more comprehensive application of the best interests of the child principle.]]>
