SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - In recent a string of high-profile cases involving teenagers accused of murder or other serious crimes, prosecutors and defense attorneys have been pushing to keep the public out, according to media lawyers.
Judges in some instances have agreed to blanket closure of cases involving minors. That includes the cases of three teens charged in connection with the death of a West Valley City police officer who was fatally struck by a stolen car.
Authorities haven’t said whether they believe the two 15-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy involved intentionally struck the young officer. A judge has sealed records in the matter, leaving the public in the dark about what charges the teens face. A coalition of media groups is fighting the judge’s order and argued this week that it should be opened up. A judge is expected to rule on the issue Thursday.
After media lawyers stepped in on other recent cases involving minors, defense attorneys and prosecutors agreed to keep cases open.
State law allows court cases involving juveniles older than 14 to be open to the public if they involve a crime that in an adult court would be a felony-level offense, such as murder. But if a judge finds “good cause,” certain hearings and evidence can be closed or the entire case can be shuttered to the media and public.
Media lawyers say open court proceedings may shed light on why juveniles commit violent acts. They also say that when crimes involve major community wounds, such as the death of a police officer, the public has an interest in how the case proceeds.
“The wound doesn’t fully heal unless and until we know how the justice system deals with such a terrible event,” said Michael O’Brien, a lawyer for The Salt Lake Tribune. “And it may not heal at all if such proceedings are kept secret from the public.”
Jackie Chamberlain, a spokeswoman for Utah’s Juvenile Justice Services, told The Salt Lake Tribune that the juvenile court system focuses on rehabilitating youth while holding them accountable. She said more than 85 percent of juvenile defendants leave treatment without committing new felonies.
“Every young person deserves an opportunity to not have their mistakes permanently label them as delinquents,” she said.
Pamela Vickrey, executive director for Utah Juvenile Defender Attorneys, said the release of details about a young person’s mental health, behavior and childhood can be damaging to children and families and hurt a young person’s ability to get jobs later on.
“Once the records have been released, the harm cannot be undone,” she said.
She said moving to close the records can sometimes just slow a case down and give attorneys and a judge a chance to decide whether access is warranted.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, https://www.sltrib.com
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