Trials involving accused teens draw gag order:
Mecklenburg District Judge Hugh Lewis has issued a gag order prohibiting anyone in the court system from talking about the case of two teenagers from a private Christian school who were accused last year of threatening to shoot fellow students and staff members.
One of the two 15-year-old boys charged with conspiracy to commit murder was tried in juvenile court this week. The trial’s outcome is being kept secret by Lewis — at least for now. So is the trial date for the other teenager.
“All proceedings in this matter are closed. No one, including all clerks and other court personnel, will discuss this case with anyone,” Lewis wrote in his order. “No further information of any kind about this case will be released from any source within the court system. This includes attorneys, participants and any one having knowledge gained within the court hearings of this case, or being involved in any way with this case.”
So it appears that the trial of the first teen has already been completed however the article states that we will eventually hear the outcome of both cases…
Despite the gag order, Lewis told the Observer he would inform the public about the outcomes of the trials of the two teenagers. That could take six months or longer, he said.
“I believe there are some things the public has a right and need to know,” the judge said. “I feel an obligation to let the public know whether these juveniles are found responsible or not responsible for these offenses.”
Also I can kind of agree with why the judge issued the gag order…
“We’re trying to rehabilitate these children,” Lewis said. “I’m able to dig deeper if the case isn’t under a magnifying glass. I can be more open with the children who commit the behavior that cause the wrong.”
I don’t necessarily agree with the rehabilitation aspect but anything that will lead to a more thorough trial is fine by me.
I guess I’ll let you know in six months how this turns out.
Sphere: Related Content
Entries (RSS)
Is it just me, or does having trials and not telling the outcome make anyone else nervous? With judges like Vermont’s Cashman and others, I am just not that trusting to think they will do the right thing.