Evening star., 1961-06-03
D. Officials Sp|it
On Juvenile Court
Three Versions
OfLeeisIotion
Are Advanced
BY GRACE BASSETT
Star staff Writer

Inc DlSCrlcL government Is
a house divided over legislation
to reorganize Juvenile Court.
Three different versions were
recommended by city officials
yesterday to a House District
subcommittee which is united
behind a bill to shift Juvenile
Court into Municipal Court
and add one more Judge.
In a surprise disagreement
with the Commissioners, Cor
poration Counsel Chester Gray
testified that he believed the
subcommittee m easure was
sound.
His superior officers, the
three Commissioners, favor
transfer only of adult cases to
Municipal Court and want two
new judges-one in the Mu-
nicipal and the other in the
Juvenile Court. They let Mr..
Gray transmit their view to the
subcommittee, aware that the
city attorney personally re-
jected it.
Ketcham Offers Third View
Juvenile Court Judge Orm
Ketcham choose to relay his
opposition to the subcommittee
bill through his assistant, Louis
Levathes. Mr.. Levathes said he
spoke for the judge in support
ing a continued independent
Juvenile Court with two more
judges.
Subcommittee Chairman Da-
Wis, Democrat of Georgia, began
a two-hour grilling of Mr.. Lev
athes by noting Judge Ketch-
ans absence. Mr.. Davis said
the judge had been invited. Mr..
LevatheS said he had not been
specifically invited" Juvenile
Court officials were advised of
the first House hearings last
week only the day before they
opened, Mr.. Levathes added.
I'VE didn't send out engraved
invitations to anybody" re-
torted Chairman Davis.
This exchange, set off by
Judge Ketcham's decision to
remain at work on the bench
during the hearings on the bill,
emphasized the growing rift be-
tween the subcommittee and
his court.
Attacks "COddling"
The breach was stressed still
more by subcommittee ques-
tions. Never has Chairman
Davis made more clear his be-
lief that law-abiding citizens
are deprived of protection by
"coddling" of juveniles in
court.
Mr.. Levathes steadfastly
maintained the Juvenile Court
philosophy that society cannot
be saved by Furnishing callow
youth.
This rapid-fire exchange
followed:
Mr.. Davis - Your court Is
in the worst mess it ever has
been. Crime is in the worst
mess it ever has been here"
Mr.. Levathes - This is a
Nationwide problem about
which I have read much.
Washington is not at the top
of the crime list"
Mr.. Davis-"I know you've
read lot and you're putting
over your crackpot theories"
Mr.. Levathes-"These the
cries have been developed by
men much more intelligent
than I. We are working under
a Juvenile Court system set up
by Congress in 1888 law.
Sees Lighter Work Load
Mr.. Gray was explaining the
Commissioners position when a
question drew out this differ.
ence with the board.
A shift of adult cases from
Juvenile to Municipal Court
would relieve the Ketcham court
of two-thirds Of its work load,
Mr.. Gray said.
With that transfer, do you
think we need another full time
judge to clear up the juvenile
backlog?" demanded Chairman
Davis.
"The Commissioners do, sir, 4"
Mr.. Gray said. For himself, he
said. one Juvenile Court judge
should be able to handle the
remaining juvenile cases.
Il personally favor the sub
committee bill with some tech.
nical changes" he volunteered
The Commissioners objected
to a subcommittee proposal to
lower from 18 to 16 the age
limit of juveniles sent to court.
They proposed, however, the
traffic points levied against
adults who commit driving
violations should be applied
equally to Youngsters of 16.