Litigation over Los Angeles judge’s decision to open juvenile courts to media

The Children's Law Centre in Los Angeles, whose attorneys act as a children's representatives in juvenile courts, have challenged the LA County Dependency Court's Judge Michael Nash's decision to allow the media to attend courtroom hearings unless an objection is made."

Executive Director of the Children's Law Centre Leslie Heimov commented: "the court has put the needs and interests of the public and the media ahead of the victims of child abuse and neglect...a judicial system that fails to respect the privacy and dignity of the children it claims to serve has lost all sight of its mission."

Former foster child Lucias Bouge maintains that the judge's order would make already vulnerable children the victims of humiliation and trauma and commented "Because of Judge Nash, youth like us and children all over L.A. County who are already dealing with painful consequences of neglect and abuse have the burden of proving why the most intimate details of our lives should be kept private."

Click here to see a piece by the LA Times on the issue.

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