Evening star., 1951-05-20
Juvenile Court
Bars Records 10
Police, Courts
Judge CockriII's New
Secrecy Order Stirs
Storm of Protest

juvenile court Judge Edith H.
Cockrill has issued orders throw
ing a curtain of secrecy between
her court and the other courts,
police and welfare agencies deal
ing with the same people.
The new order, issued without
warning and belatedly reaching
the affected agencies, has brought
storm of protests from judges,
probation officers, police and pub
lie and private welfare officials.
Under this directive, court at
taches are forbidden to reveal any
information to the other agencies.
about the results of their investi-
cation of the childs past history
and problems. The only exception
is that a summary goes along
with child when he is committed
to an institution.
Court Order Required.
A court order is required before
the probation officers of District
Court, as we'll as police or other
agencies, can find out if a child
is or ever has been on probation.
A Understanding court order
is also required before a public
agency which helps out with re-
lief payments to a mother can find
out if the father of her illegiti-
mate child has been ordered to
support the child and how much
he has been ordered to pay.
What is not actually forbidden
in the way of information to COM
munity agencies is wrapped up in
enough restrictions to leave the
other agencies wallowing in red
tape.
Judges contend the new order
hlnders their pre-sentence investi-
cations. Police say when they
pick up child they can't find out
what is best for the child on the
basis of what Juvenile Court
knows about the child's history.
Welfare agencies say Juvenile
Court workers are referring moth
ers and children to them for help
but are forbidden to say what
kind OF help should be rendered.
Says Statute Governs.
In issuing the directive on Gin
spection of records and release Of
information by the Juvenile
Court" Judge Cockrill stated:
1T is certainly recognized that
this represents a departure from
practices that have heretofore
been followed in the court and
Will obviously result in some reper-
cusslons and Inconvenience both
within and without the court.
However, these matters are gov
erned by statute and are not dis
cretionary except in definitely de-
fined limits"
Those protesting the order,
however, argued that this was a
personal Interpretation" of the
Juvenile Court Act of 1898. They
contend that the act never was
intended to keep information
from the other agencies which CO.
operate with the Juvenile Court.
This Is the second storm that
has blown up over Judge Cock
rllls administration. A year ago.
the courts supervisor of social
workers and a top assistant re-
signed in dispute over Judge
Cockrill's handling of cases.
Report Due This Month.
At that time, the Juvenile
Court Advisory Committee rec
commended an impartial study of
the controvesry-ridden court. A
special committee was appointed
by the judge last November and
is due to make it's report at the
end of this month.
AS for the new order, probation
officers IN the other courts, police
and public and private welfare
agencies said the first they knew
about it was when court employees
started refusing to answer their
routine inquiries.
When they began to protest
and ask for explanations, it was
the controversy-riden court. A
learned, the judge agreed to send
out to the affected agencies the
memorandum which had been cir
culated to court employees. For
that reason. although the direc-
tive was dated May l, it did not
reach some agencies until late last
week, 1t has not been made public.
Issues Blanket Order.
One of the first reactions to
Judge Cockrill's directive came
from District Court Judge Alex
ander Holtzoff, who is the lia:son
judge for District Court probation
officers. Since the Juvenile Court
Act provides that records may be
made available by order of Dis
trict Court, Judge HoltzofY
promptly issued a blanket order
Continued on Page A-9, Col. ~