Evening star., 1933-04-09
BY JAMES WALDO FAwCErT.

The development of intelligent puDnc
interest in the problems Of the Juvenile
Court is the objective of representa-
tive group Of sociologists and educators
which, having organized and conducted
a successful conference on The Child,
the Law and the Court" March 81, now
plans to continue its work.
Among those active in the movement
are: Edgar NJ Gerlach, Juvenile Pro-
tective Association; Mrs. Clara Morten-
son Boyer, League of Women Voters, ,
Rev. DR.. Russell j. Clinchy, Social SerV-
ice Committee, Federation OF Churcnes;
Ray L. Everett, Social Hygiene Society;
Dr. John O'Grady, Catholic Charities.
and Arthur S. Rosichan, Jewish Social
Service Agency.
Mr.. Gerlach. speaking for the COM
mittee, yesterday said In view OF the
fact that an appointment of new
Judge for the Juvenile Court is soon to
to be made and in consideration OF the
prominent role which the court neceS-
sarily plays in our community life ana
of the particular situation of the Dis
trict of Columbia in relation to the Ma
tional Government, we feel that we
should continue our campaign OF eou-
cation among the people. We are espe-
cially concerned about the choice OF the
Judge. The primary consideration Is
not the matter Of an appointment
versus reappointment, man versus
woman judge, or a social worker
versus lawyer. 1t is, however, OF pr
Importance that socially-rinded, un-
selfish. nom politically expedient motiva-
tionS shall prevail in the selection for
appointment or reappointment of one in
whose hands the destiny OF countless
thousands Of the future citizens OF the
District will be placed"
No "Favorite Candidate"
The group has no "favorite candidate"
Of its own and does not urge the claims
of any individual. To discover the
qualifications considered imperative it
has conducted a symposium. Mr.. Ger
ZACH explained: There are conflicting
opinions. The legal group, for example,
feels that a lawyer makes the best type
of juvenile judge: the social workers
that a trained social worker with rich
background of experience would best
measure up to even minimum standards,
and still others think that combina-
ton of the two would best qualify one
for such position"
Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt,
former Assistant Attorney General,
gave it as her opinion that "the most
important qualification Of a juvenile
court judge Is common horse sense; sec
ond, experience in the law, and third,
experience In social work." Her judg-
ment was echoed by Justin Miller, dean
OF the Duke University Law School.
chairman of the section on criminal law
and criminology of the American Bar
Association, and vice president of the
National Probation Association. Get
socially minded judges" said Miss
Henrietta Addition, deputy police COM
missioner Of New York City. Keep
can be very dangerous II they are not
well rum DR.. william A. White,
psychiatrist and head of ST Elizabeth's
Hospital, agreed that the ideal judge
would be "a person whose sympathy is
with the child" Leifur Magnusson,
president of the Monday Evening CLUB
and chief of the International Labor
Once, likewise stressed the point that
"a juvenile court should be based more
on the principals Of equity and COM
mon law than on q narrow interpreta-
ton of statutory law" and favored a
sympathetic judge. Mrs. Boyer said
the minimum requirement of court
personnel should be qualifications
such as entitle one to membership in
the American Association Of Social
Workers."
Mrs. Louis D. Brandeis, q sponsor
of the recent conference, joined with
these experts In approving the plan 10
continue the work. She said: II think
1t would be splendid idea. We must
not lose the ground, already gained.
1t is only by constant pounding away
that one ever achieves any purpose, and
this one is truly worthwhile"