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Los Angeles County Judge Michael Nash on Tuesday issued an order to open up some children’s court hearings to journalists and reporters. They will now be allowed inside the dependency side of juvenile court to cover cases of child abuse, neglect or adoption provided that the child’s parents or legal guardian do not give compelling evidence that media presence goes against the child’s best interests. Members of the public will be restricted from dependency court hearings unless they clearly demonstrate a legitimate interest in the case or their presence is requested by the child’s parents or legal guardian. The ruling is being called a victory by organizations fighting for increased government accountability in child welfare cases. Local groups such as DCFS-Give Us Back Our Children and Every Mother is a Working Mother celebrated Judge Nash’s ruling as a step in the right direction, while at the same time expressing that “ultimately the public must be afforded the same rights as the press to have access to the courts.” Supporters of open children’s courts say they are necessary because secrecy in child welfare cases hides the fact that children, especially children of color, are unjustly taken from their families. Groups opposed to opening child welfare cases are disappointed by Judge Nash’s order, claiming media exposure will invade children’s privacy and potentially place them at risk of emotional trauma. Organizations like the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform (NCCPR), which has worked on opening children’s courts nationally, finds such criticism to be without evidence. The group has concluded that, “[t]here can be no true child protection when a government agency is given virtually unchecked power, almost no accountability, and operates in secret.”

GUEST: Richard Wexler, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform

Visit www.nccpr.org for more information.