TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ An appeal court has admonished juvenile officials and judges in Duval County to comply with the state's detention law.

A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal noted in a ruling Wednesday that it has reversed 10 of 18 detention orders appealed from Duval in the last 13 months, upholding only three. The others were dismissed as moot.

The panel reiterated earlier comments that juvenile detention is controlled by the Legislature and it's not for judges to question lawmaker's wisdom.

The ruling noted that circuit judges cannot order detention simply due to lack of a better alternative or a parent's fear a child might run away, take drugs or engage in sexual activity.

The law sets specific criteria such as being a risk to inflict harm.