The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-02-10
CHARGE s
DENIED BY
FRIENDS
Juvenile Court Justice Il
Likely to Win Approval
for Another Term

Judge Kathryn Sellers, of the
Juvenile Court, today personally
appeared before the Senate Judi
ciary subcommittee which last
week heard sensational charges
against her administration.
Judge Sellers categorically denied
al of the accusations and told the
subcommittee emphatically that she
has never, during her six years on
the bench, prejudged a case by
talking it over either with lawyers
or social workers.
Sellers o. X. Likely.
1t was apparent at the end Of to-
days hearing reserved for friends
Of Judge Sellers that the Judge viii
be approved by the subcommittee
for another six year term Of office.
It seemed to be tbs. conviction of
Senator Means Of Colorado. chair
man of the subcommittee, and Sena-
tor Caraway Of Arkansas, that much
of the protest grew out of the fact.
that the juvenile court law is q bad
one which should be drastically
amended
Chairman Means gave notice that
at the FIRST opportunity he win take
steps to have the juvenile court law
radically changed, particularly in
respect to the present denial Of APP
peal from decisions of this court.
RailrOading Babies.
Senator Caraway, remembering
the charges made. that Judge Sellers
has railroaded babies and young
children from their homes, made a
point of going into this question
with today's witnesses. He said
that he did not believe any children
should be taken out Of a home
where poverty was the only con-
eideration.
Judge Sellers agreed with Senator
Caraway, and said that she was al
ways reluctant to take child from
its home no matter how squaIid,
and that she really believed that in
some cases il she had been more
severe it would have been better for
the physical condition of the chill
dren involved.
Mrs. e. r. Cornbach. in charge
of the juvenile court committee of
SAAC 1iSlt1CL OOUSECSS VI FdES0Is
Teacher Associations, said she had
sat in the Juvenile Court every
Wednesday for four years and had
nothing but admiration for Judge
Sellers conduct of her court.
Defr=ded by Pastor.
The Reverend w. L. Darby, Sec
rotary OF the Washington edera-
ton of Churches, said that he
thinks that Judge Sellers has earn
estly endeavored to be a power for
good. in the court.
Judge Latimer, who held the
tudgeship of the Juvenile court for
four years. told the committee that
ne believed that many of the
charges made against Judge Sellers
should be taken with a grain of
salt. He said he appreciated the
tmpossibility Of trying to please
everyone as a juvenile court Judge,
Doctor l.. w. GIazebrook. who
said he had been doing social work
Tor flVe or six years, said that he
tnougnt Judge Sellers had more
heart in her work than the aver
age man and that she was an ideaI
person for the post.
Testifying from the standnoint
OF lawyers who have numerous
cases before Judge Sellers. A. w.
scott and Thomas l.. Jones. both
colored. praised her to the highest
degree.
Doctor John O'Grady, director of
Catholic Charities, told the sub.
committee that the juvenile court
mere stands about fifth in the
country, and in handling 1900
cases In the last four years he has
no fault to find with Judge Sellers.
Louise Ogle Bell, charity worker.
was another advocate OF the con-
tlnuance of Judge Sellers reign as
was Mrs. William Wolff Smith,