Evening star., 1951-07-02
Investigate the Juvenile Court

1t is highly important, in The Stars opinion,
that the Senate District Committee proceed as
quickly as possible to a study of the proposed
amendment of the Juvenile Court law. The
amendment is designed to clarity law whose
meaning has become confused by the interpre-
tationS placed upon its provisions by Juvenile
Court Judge Edith H Cockrill. Those interpre-
tations seem to be unique in the administration
of comparable statutes over the land. They have
led to an impasse between the court and such
agencies as the Districts Public Welfare Depart
ment in which background information, con-
sdered essential to intelligent disposition Of
cases. is being withheld by Juvenile Court.
But as designations of members Of the
Juvenile Court staff continue, something more
important than the proposed clarifying amend
ment comes into the picture. Mrs. Grace w.
Bell whose resignation was announced on Fri
day, supplemented her letter to Judge Cockrill
with an interview in which she outlined the
nature of some Of the courts recent rulings
thus meaning to amplify her charge that under
the incumbent Judge there has been IAN arbi-
trary reversal of philosophy and policy at the
court" She mentions, as Illustrations. the case
Of a 15-year-old mother, arrested and punished
for contempt of court in not showing up as
complaining witness at hearing; Of q 16-year-
old mother sentenced to 10 days in the Receiving
f1oIIle 1oT uoC ANSWERING Iilc JuuSeS qucStloHS,
of a 17-year-old father receiving s0-day Jail
sentence for non-support.
The Star does not attempt to pass Judgment
on the propriety of these sentences But it is
to be kept in mind that Juvenile Court Judge
is able to operate behind an iron curtain of
secrecy which, though designed originally to
protect the interest of juveniles, also shields the
Judge from critical public appraisal Of her dscre-
ton. 1t is probably true that no Judge sitting
on any court in the land, is clothed with such
arbitrary power and is so completely protected
from informed public opinion as to the exercise
OF that power as the judge of the Juvenile Court
Of the District of Columbia. Nor Is there in any
court so great an opportunity for miscarriage
Of justice, without review or check by higher
authority
It is highly important that some means be
devised to bring under competent examination
the performance of Miss Cockrill as Juvenile
Court Judge. The Senate District Committee may
not be the proper agency to do this. But surely
it is in a position to Judge the need for such an
examination in its consideration of the proposed
amendment, and to initiate the steps under
which such an examination Of the courts prac-
tces can be undertaken. There are we'll ll-qualified
witnesses who should be called. There are court
records which should be made available for study.
The confidence of important segments Of
this community in its Juvenile Court is being
destroyed and it is high time that the conditions
which have led to that loss of confidence be
examined. The Senate District Committee,
which has indicated some interest in the matter,
should decide the proper steps to be taken. The
law itself, written without anticipating the
present situation, contains no adequate remedy.