Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-12
FAVOR NEW HOME
FOR CHILD COURT
Judqe Latimer's Plan Meets
With General Approval
of Officials.
JUDICIARY SQUARE SITE
DECLARED PROPER ONE
Prosecutors Point Out Importance of
Making Right Impression on
Juvenile Mind.

Judge Latimefs plan for the construc-
ton OF q new building for the Juvenile
Court. to correspond in position and ap-
pearance with the Court of Appeals, on
judiciary Square, is meeting with the
hearty Endorsement of local court Off
Gals.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Williams
who is conducting the prosecutions in
the Juvenile Court in the absence of As
sistant Corporation Counsel Schuldt, and
who Is familiar with the procedure and
needs of the court and the children
brought before it, said to a Star reporter
today that he concurs absolutely with
Judge Latimer's idea for new court.
ANY one who has visited the present
tumbledown shack in which the court
is held must instantly see the need of
a new courthouse" Mr.. Williams said.
Tt is assured / understand, that the
court will have to find new quarters on
account of the condemnation Of all of
the property on which the court stands
to make way for the new building of
the geological survey.
For House of Detention Also.
Soon after the judge was notified
that the court must find new quarters
within year j discussed the matter
with him. and he outlined his plan to
me at that time. The plan for the
court would also do away with the in
adequate house of detention we now
have and combine these two closely re-
lated parts of the legal machinery of
the city,
LAS the Court of Appeals building now
stands in relation to the City Hall, there
and north of the City Hall to place the
Juvenile Court building and make the
plan of the buildings on Judiciary Square
symmetrical. In my opinion, 1t would be
mistake to try to find another build
ing to rent and use for court. This
has been tried, and the courthouse we
have is a disgrace to the capital OF the
United States"
Assistant United States Attorney Ralph
Given, the prosecutor in the United
States branch of the Police Court, who
had large experience with juvenile
deliquents prior to the establishment of
the present Juvenile Court seven years
ago, conceded with Judge Latimer's and
Mr.. Williams opinions.
Since it is assured that the present
house in which the court is held must be
vacated within year." Mr.. Given said,
Il can see no possible objection to using
the ground east of the Court of Appeals
for the erection of a proper Juvenile
Court building.
Child Prisoner Impressionable.
"For the best results, the proper sur
roundings in a court must be primary
consideration Mr.. Given continued,
land / think this is especially true Of
children's court. A child is SO much more
impressionable than man or woman,
that it must make a deep and lasting
impression, and a bad one. on a child
mind to be brought into the rickety old
structure in which the court is now
housed"
Mr.. Given had years Of experience in
an inadequate courthouse before the
present Police Court building was erected
and can speak with authority of the diff
Guilty undergone in conducting a court
properly with such surroundings.
LAS this was true with the Police
Court" Mr.. Given said. 1T applies with
double force to the Juvenile Court. In
many ways the children's courts are the
most important in the entire judicial
system.
The proximity to the criminal and other
courts, Mr. Given did not think would be
harmful in any way, as the principal en-
trance to the building planned by Judge
Latimer would be a square removed from
the other court buildings, and practically
as isolated as the present children's
court.