It's a fiction that secrecy is good in dealing with kids

[BridgeTheGap]

You don't believe there's knee-jerk resistance to opening any proceeding or file that has to do with juveniles?

Just consider this week's Fayette Circuit Court hearing into Kentucky public defenders' refusal to take more status offender cases.

The public was shut out, even though a matter of major public importance was discussed. Those inside the courtroom know what was said and done, but the rest of us have to guess, even though an issue of foremost constitutional significance was considered.

For more than three hours, officials discussed access to legal help for juveniles who commit acts that would not be criminal for an adult -- like skipping school or running away from home. After it was all over, nobody except the insiders knew what had happened.

Judge John Schrader even gagged Public Advocate Ernie Lewis, whose job description makes him responsible for letting the public know how the public defender system is operating.

Just outrageous.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/COLUMNISTS08/807160834/1054/OPINION

[Name removed]

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