Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-26

Favors Easing
|0f Records Ban
Juvenile Court Jurist
At Odds With Other
Witnesses on Methods
By Miriam Ottenberq

Eight witnesses, including Juve-
nile Court Judge Edith H. Cockrill,
testified today in favor of legisla-
ton to make Juvenile Court rec
ords available to other agencies,
but they differed on how the pres
ent law should be amended.
After an hour-long hearing be-
fore the judiciary subcommittee
of the Senate District Committee.
Senator Johnston, Democrat, Of
South Carolina, subcommittee
chairman, said he too thought
new legislation was needed. Tho
details of the new act, he said.
will depend on what comes out
of an executive session of his SUBJ
committee after the other mem
bers read the minutes. He sat
alone in today's hearing.
Judge Urges Ample Study.
Although some of the witnesses
urged immediate action to get a
law that will, in effect, lift Judge
Cockrill's information ban, the
Judge herself took this position:
"While trust that this can be
accomplished promptly, should
hope that ample study and con-
sideration will be given to the
problems and principles involved.
The real facts in the situation
certainly do not warrant emer-
gency or hasty, ill-considered
action"
The hearing steered clear of the
controversy that has Swirled
around Juvenile Court since Judge
Cockrill shut off information and
her policies brought designations
from three ranking court officials.
Two of the resigned officers, Miss
Helaine A. Todd, former director
of social work, and Mrs. Grace w.
Bell, former case supervisor, at
tended today's hearing but did not
testify.
Johnston Commends Witnesses.
| Apparently fearing that the
court controversy would get into
the hearing, Senator Johnston
said at the outset that he hoped
that the witnesses would stick to
the facts involved in the question
whether a new law was needed. At
the end Of the hearing, he COM
Imended the witnesses for staying
on the main ISSUE"
Judge Cockrill herself came
Iclosest to recognizing orally that
the court has been the target Of
considerable criticism. In urging
that court hearings be opened to
visitors with "a legitimate interest
in the case or the work of the
court" Judge Cockrill said the
court needed community support
and confidence to operate effec-
lively. She said this was not pos
ISible unless the community,
Through responsible channels, can
have direct and accurate informa-
ton on the courts operation.
Need for Information Cited,
Lack of information. misin-
formation, half-truths and Specu-
lation as to the courts operation
has in the past been very detri-
mental to the court" she said.
1.-THE court should not and does
not have any reason to shield its
operation beyond that of protect-
ing the interests Of the children
before 1t and it should not be sub
jected to criticism before the pub
lie unless the public can have
some intelligent and accurate
means Of passing on the validity
of the criticism"
The bill proposed by the Com
miSSioners specifically provides
that the Board of Public Welfare
and its employees shall be entitled
to inspect the social record of the
court. which includes background
information. The Judge in her
discretion could make social in
formation available to other in
tereSted persons or agencies.
AS for legal records, the bin
would vest discretion in both Dis
(See JUVENILE. Page A-5)