Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-21
Juvenile Court
ksSoIe Right
To Tell Names
Judge Moves Hits
Council Decision
In Bombing Cases

Montgomery County Juvenile
Court Judge Alfred d. Moves yes
terday asked the County Council
to let him decide what publicity.
if any, should be given juvenile
crime in the county.
The judge, accompanied by
members of the Juvenile Court
Advisory Committee. urged the
council to leave the matter of
the release Of names Of youths
involved even in aggravated
criminal acts up to the court.
Judge Noyes was critical of the
councils action last. month in
directing that police release the
names of three juveniles who
were leaders in a series of bomb
ings that terrorized residents of
the Bethesda Chevy Chase area
during April, May and early
June.
II don't think that happened
to be a prerogative Of the County
Council" Judge Moves said.
No Immediate Decision.
The council. after lengthy
discussion, said the matter could
not be resolved Immediately. but
made it clear it was not turning
the job Of total censorship over
to the court.
Judge Moves, himself. received
a suggestion from Councilman
Louis A. Gravelle that perhaps
it was time for the court "to get
a little tough"
'I'll not do it as long as I am
Juvenile Court judge" Judge
Moves retorted. He added the
problem of juvenile delinquency
could not be solved by q get
tough" policy.
Judge Moves clash with the
council was accompanied by the
courts annual report which
showed 20 per cent increase in
behavior cases handled by the
court in 1858 over previous years
figures.
No State Censorship.
Maryland law does not prohibit
the publication Of names of jul
veniles involved in criminal ac-
tions, Judge Moves said.
He added, however, that it had
been the policy of the court not
to release the names and that the
publication of the identity of the
Bethesda youths who made and
threw the bombs was the first
time such information had been
made public.
Judge Noyes said such pub
licity intereferes with the opera
tions of the court, which acts as
o court of treatment.
Publicity should be given
only with the consent of the
court or of parents themselves"
Judge Moves said. .
The Juvenile Court, Judge
Noyes said, is open to the press
only on condition that names of
defendants and their parents be
kept secret. The court records,
he said, are open to any Sin
terested person" (attorneys and
any agency giving service to the
child.
Judge Moves denied sugges-
tons that the publication of
names might tend to sharpen
the parents interests in their
children'S activities"
Blames Most Parents.
Mr.. Gravelle said he felt that
80 per cent of delinquency was
attributable to parents and he
knew of no other way to get to
them except through publicity.
Councilman George r. NeSbitt
drew support from a member of
the Juvenile Court Committee
when he suggested that some
publicity might be of worth in
aggravated criminal cases.
The Rev. Joseph T. Kennedy
of st. Johns Catholic Church
of Forest Glen, a member of the
committee. said he believed there
were times when names of juve-
niles should be released.
The council is hopeful OF set
ting up conference on de-
linquency and recreation prob
lens at which the Juvenile
Courts request will be con-
sidered.
/ In the meantime. councilmen
indicated Judge Moves could con-
tinue his policy Of withholding
names Of juveniles but that they
reserved the right to take action
in special cases.