Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-05
Judqe CockriH

JuVeIllle OOurC Judge, Inc
Star states that q new era Of
justice for youthful offenders
is foreseen." Does this imply
that there is a different
Justice" or that there are
degrees of justice? Your
further comments seem to sug-
gest that team work" and
qualities of personal popularity
or at least ability in public re-
lations are among the prime
requisites for a Juvenile Court
judge. All of this appears to
belittle the service of Judge
Cockrill whose record Of fair,
impartial administration Of
justice cannot be attacked.
Judge Cockrill came to the
bench after a long period Of in
capacity by her predecessor,
during which time the Court
was administered, certainly
with the best intentions. by
persons who were not actually
responsible for such duties.
When Judge Cockrill arrived
she set her own goals and
carried out court business with
painstaking concern. She was
promptly attacked by both
amateur and professional spe-
cialists in juvenile problems.
She was described as too stern
and not understanding Of chill
dren's problems" almost at the
same time another group Of
people said the Judge was too
soft" and should be tougher"
Through all this controversy
Judge Cockrill heard case after
case and made her careful
decisions on the basis Of EVIL
dence presented. Her resources
have been only those which the
community established through
its welfare and institutional
programs.
Her court was impressive:
she wore a robe and conducted
herself in a dignified manner
and used simple, clear language.
There was no folksineSs or
talking-down to children so
that every child and parent
knew that they had been before
a Judge. To this observer that
has been an admirable situa-
ton especially since all minors
who appear before her have
already gone through a long
series Of informal, friendly in
terviews with trained social
workers who seek an adjust
ment of the child's problems.
The Judge. aloof and impartial.
must decide from the social
workers report and testimony
and witnesses testim ony
whether or not the child is
guilty and after that what can
be done for him in light OF
com m unity resources. The
Judge is not the investigator
but the weigher Of facts before
the court.
On this point. I believe
number of people have a mis-
conception about juveniles
rights. They believe that be-
cause they, as adults. consider
a child bad" or delinquent"
he should be so judge d.
Actually such a concept OF
juvenile justice denies a child
his basic rights - for each
child has the same right
as an adult to have his
case judged on the basis OF
factual evidence sworn to be-
fore the court. There is not q
person in the city who works
with juveniles who is not some
times frustrated because he Is
sure certain things are going
on--his experience and his
knowledge Of human conduct
make him positive but he can
not present a case on what he
thinks or feels to be true; he
must be able to get UP in court
and say II saw" II witnessed"
but not II think"
Judge Cockrill has kept UNI
erringly on this ideal Of JUS
tice and If she has failed to
make her strength and ability
popular. 1t is unfortunate for
our city.
Judge Cockrill should not
leave the Juvenile Court with
out knowing that many people
in the city do appreciate her
devoted service.
Government Witness.