Evening star., 1954-10-29
Judge CockriII Tells
Law Students Why
Cases Are Secret

Gases Are Secret
The policies and practices Of
Juvenile Court--a subject of
controversy here for at least the
last three years-were defended
last night by Judge Edith II.
Cockrill.
Judge Cockrill answered criti-
cism from various judges, pro-
baton officers. police and public
and private welfare officials on
two Of the most pressing issues
In the controversy-secrecy OF
Juvenile Court records and pro-
ceedings and the reason why
Juvenile case are treated diff.
ferently from adult cases.
Speaking before the George
Washington University Student
Bar Association in Lisner Audi
torium, Judge Cockrill explained
her stand on the so-called
"closed door, procedures In Juv-
emile Court.
There are good reasons for
this" she declared. 1--WE do not
feel the child and his family
should be held up to public con-
demnation when he gets into
trouble. And it should not be
forgotten that we are dealing
with most intimate details Of a
child's life"
Setting LoOsens Tongues.
Judge Cockrill declared it is
essential to have the child and
parent free to express them
selves fully before the court.
"A child will not perform in q
roomful of guests" said Judge
Cockrill. "but he will when he's
home alone"
Turning to reasons why she
said she believes juvenile cases
should be handled differently
from adults cases, Judge Cock
rill said:
while juveniles may be more
mature than they used to be,
they are still children. They are
not fully accountable, although
they should be responsible for
what they do.
I'VE owe to our boys and girls
the opportunity Of becoming
good, law-abiding citizens-and
most of them will"
Judge Cockrill pointed to such
radical innovations of the adult
courts as the probation system,
psychiatric clinics and parole as
methods having public accept
ance now.
II think we're making prog
ress," she said.
Holds Harshness No Answer.
AS to harsher punishment-a
method of hitting at juvenile de-
linquency strongly recommended
by some experts-Judge Cockrill
had this comment:
IF punishment we're the cure,
we could have eliminated the
need for a Juvenile Court a long
time ago. In this enlightened
age. no one thinks punishment
holds the only answer"
She said it is unfair to think
of all juveniles as delinquents,
pointing out that only 3 per cent
ever come in contact with the
law-"and the initial contact is
as far as it usually goes"
The Juvenile Court judge told
the student law association the
District needs facilities for emo
tionally disturbed children.
"The ernotionally disturbed"
she said, don't belong in We'll
fare Department institutions or
the National Training School for
Boys" She said private schools
in the area for such cases are
prohibitively expensive, some
charging monthly rates as high
as $400.
"Individualized Justice.
Describing the philosophy of
the Juvenile Court. Judge Cock
rill called it a court Of individ-
ualized justice, not too much
bound by patterns-by rules,
yes. but in accordance with in
dividual cases."
"It's not true that the Juve-
nile Court does not consider the
community" said Judge Cock
rill. "The needs of children be-
fore the court are always
weighted against the needs Of
the community.
I'VE are dealing with the
rights of parents to have the
child in the home with them
and the right of the child to be
home with his parents. Parents
have a right to educate. rear
and train the child according
to their own lights"
Edward Ansell. president Of
the association, directed the
meeting.