Juvenile proceedings, including those for foster placement and adoption have long been closed to media coverage in California. Judges have chosen not to allow television and other reporters in the courtroom out of concern for the privacy of the juveniles in proceedings. However, after the order of the presiding judge for the Los Angeles County Juvenile Court, those rules are set to be changed.

On Jan. 31, a judge with the Los Angeles County Juvenile Court directed that the media will be allowed to cover juvenile proceedings, including adoptions, in the county juvenile dependency court. The ruling will allow media coverage of the dependency matter unless a party to the case makes a compelling argument as to why the proceeding should remain private. Previously, the only way for a news organization to be allowed to cover a juvenile dependency matter would be for them to first obtain permission from the court, and it was uncommon for a media organization to be allowed to film in the courtroom.

It should be noted that this ruling applies only to dependency issues, like adoption, rather than juvenile criminal issues. The ruling only applies to media outlets and not to the general public. Dependency matters will continue to be closed to the general public unless the person wishing to attend the hearing can convince the court that they have a legitimate reason for attending the proceeding. This is retention of the long-standing rule in juvenile dependency courts.

The privacy of the parties to the matter, including the children, remains an important consideration for the juvenile court. Media outlets are applauding the decision as they suggest that it has been difficult to accurately report the outcome of juvenile matters due to their inability to attend the proceedings. Similarly, reports suggest that it is the hope of the court that having media members in attendance will assist in keeping the juvenile court in check and result in fair and complete attention to each dependency matter.

Source: Los Angeles Times, "L.A. judge orders Juvenile Court opened to news media," Garrett Therolf, Feb. 1, 2012