Evening star., 1933-04-09
An Ideal Juvenile Court Judge.

A new Juvenile Court judge Is to be
appointed, and a considerable number
of sociologists, lawyers and educators
very properly are concerned that the
person chosen for the post should be
wholly competent to discharge its
duties. They are aware that in other
communities politically expedient ap-
pointments occasionally have been
made, with the result that the purposes
for which separate tribunals have been
established for child offenders have
been seriously perverted. Without spe-
cifying any candidate Of their own.
they have been studying the situation
and now are pleading for the naming
of an officer capable Of measuring up
to their ideals. OF course, they are
well within their rights as citizens in
90 doing.
Obviously, too, they are correct in
their conception Of the Juvenile Court
as an institution Of prime social i'm
portance in the corporate life of the
community Those who are intimately
acquainted with the work know that
each case has characteristics peculiarly
individual, strikingly different. Chill
dren are less regimented than adults,
and their misdemeanors often are weird
and bizarre. It is exceedingly difficult
to generalize in the circumstances.
Rules and regulations which easily may
be applied to mature intelligence
simply cannot invariably be imposed
upon boys and girls who have not yet
attained anything like an age of dis
cretion. Allowance has to be made for
their infantile status. To meet the
need an informal variety of justice has
to be developed, and that fact gives to
the presiding magistrate vast leeway
in administration as well as heavy re-
sponsibility. The ideal Juvenile Court
Judge must be a veritable paragon Of
sound critical balance, tolerance, SYM
pathy, understanding and experience.
Such q person is not likely to be found
without careful search. Not every law
yer nor every social worker Is qualified.
A combination of the training Of both
is what is wanted, and there must be
at least q few persons who are SO
equipped. Certainly cautious and
deliberate quest for the right man or
woman Is amply justified.
A more general interest in the
Juvenile Court should be entertained
by the people at large. Correctly
functioning, it is one of the most val
uable developments of modern times.
Its invention marked a new departure
in the policy of the forces of social
order In dealing with crime. It's record
to date Is excellent in spite Of occa-
sional blemishes attributable to political
interference. Its future should be con-
structively useful and helpful. But it
cannot rise above the spiritual level
Of the people, and there is danger that,
neglected. it might fall below that
grade To keep its standards high
should be the business Of the public
dS WCh ~ VI VIC !uuASAaI dAu ooAiAiAo-
trative system Of which it is part. Per-
haps board of visitors, to include
representatives Of the civic and social
bodies Of the community, would be
an aid.
When Allen Upward, in his book,
1.-THE New Word" some years ago de-
clared MY client is the child" he
summarized the intelligent concept of
the obligation of mankind. 1t Is true
that in our boys and girls rests all our
hope as a nation. Those of them who
by chance 60 into the Juvenile Court
should receive justice of the heart as
well as of the head. They should go
before magistrate we'll qualified in
both. and such a magistrate should
have appreciation and unfaltering sup
port.