Evening star., 1951-06-10
Juvenile Court
Advisers Quit;
Criticize Setup
Committee Doubts
Improvement Under
Existing Conditions
By Miriom Gutenberg

The Juvenile Court Advisory
Committee, an independent but
integral part of the court since
1887, has voted to dissolve, it was
ANNOUNCED last night.
The resignation of the entire
committee will take effect after a
new committee, appointed in line
with the procedures outlined in
the recent Juvenile Court study
committee report, has assumed its
duties.
In resigning. the advisory COM
mittee joins two directors of social
work, the chief probation officer
and a court supervisor. All have
left the court in the past year in
protest against Juvenile Court
Judge Edith H. Cockrill's admin
IiStratlon.
Had Avoided Controversy.
The advisory committee, as a
body. had stayed out of the recent
controversy over Judge Cockrill's
order shutting off court informa-
ton from community agencies.
The committee had been awaiting
the report of the study committee.
Iappointed at the advisory COM
mittee's request in the wake Of a
storm of protest over last years
designations.
The advisory committee, in a
press statement announcing its
vote to dissolve, also:
| Charged that ments
Throughout the study committees
report confirm criticisms made by
the two court officials who re-
signed last month.
Expressed doubt that any real
improvement can be expected in
the court, even if the study COM
mittee's recommendations are car
ried out. as long as the courts
present philosophy prevails.
Puts Question Before Public.
Put it up to the community
! whether the Juvenile Court is to
ioperate as these courts operate
throughout the country or from
a severely and narrowly legalistic
point of view"
/ Described the judges secrecy
order as "symptomatic of an un-
derlyjng condition" -
The committee said it had voted
to dissolve because the mutual
.. cooperation and confidence it
had enjoyed under three judges
have been lacking for the past
year or more. Nowhere in the
statement was Judge Cockrill
mentioned by name. ..../
Shaw Heads Committee.
The advisory committee Is
headed by G. Howland Shaw, for
mer Assistant Secretary of State
and nationally recognized for his
work with juvenile delinquents.
The other Is members number
physicians, attorneys and busi-
nessmen as well as church, civic
and welfare leaders. They include:
Mrs. Oscar L. Chapman, Ralph
w. Donnelly, Harry C. English,
Henry Gichner, DR.. Ellis Ha-
worth. George E. c. Hayes, Arthur
E. Morrissette, DR.. M. Virginia
O'Neil, Mrs. Mildred Percy. Roger
Robb. Howard o. Robinson, jr.,
Miss Eta Mai Russell, Mrs. Har-
old Sinton, Mrs. Portia Ware and
Mrs. Theodore o. Wedel.
The study committee, in in
dorsing the idea of an advisory
committee to act as liaison be-
tween the court and the COM
munity. recommended that the
Judge select her own 15-member
advisory committee from a list
of so qualified and interested cit
liens submitted by a representa-
tive community agency, such as
United Community Services. That
was the procedure referred to by
the advisory committee in it's
statement.
Advisers Statement.
The full statement follows:
cat a meeting of the advisory
committee held on June 8, II Of
Is members being present, the
report of the study committee and
the letters of resignation of Miss
Helaine A. Todd and Mrs. Helen
j. Cooper and the subsequent
statement by the former of the
reasons which prompted her res
ignation were considered and dis
cussed.
THE committee noted with
| (See JUVENILE COURT. Pg. Am