Opinion: Let's end the secrecy in juvenile court

Opinion: Let's end the secrecy in juvenile court - San Jose Mercury News: "A foster child dies while in care. The media contact the children's services agency and ask what happened. The agency responds that it cannot reveal any of the facts because the law requires that the matter remain confidential. The media next contact the juvenile court judge who responds that there will have to be a hearing before the release (if any) of information relating to the death. The media is outraged. The public wonders about the secrecy surrounding the child's death and whether the agency and the court are trying to hide something.
California's juvenile courts are closed to the public. For a number of reasons, this policy has not served juvenile courts or the public well. It is time to open the juvenile court to public scrutiny. Here is my proposal."