Case Name: STATE in the Interest of D.W.
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2003-10-07
Citations: 865 So. 2d 761
Docket Number: No. JWK 03-01356
Parties: STATE in the Interest of D.W.
Judges: 
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 865
Pages: 761–762

Head Matter:
STATE in the Interest of D.W.
No. JWK 03-01356.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.
Oct. 7, 2003.
Walter Marshall Sanchez, Lake Charles, David Jeffrey Utter, New Orleans, Christopher Eades, for D.W.
Robert Richard Bryant Jr., Lake Charles, for State of Louisiana.
Mary Holly Hammett, River Ridge, Martha Morgan, Baton Rouge, for Department of Public Safety.

Opinion:
SAUNDERS, J.,
dissents and assigns reasons.
I would grant the writ. This court is called upon to weigh the rights of the Juvenile against the rights of the public to have open access to the courts. The Juvenile is attempting to waive his rights to privacy and the victim of his crime is not a party to the hearing. Under these circumstances, I feel the need for open access and the Juvenile's right to self determination far outweigh any other consideration before the court and I would allow the Juvenile to waive his right to a confidential hearing.