Judge orders Michael Brown juvenile records released to lawyers

[pintobean]

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

CLAYTON • A judge will allow lawyers representing Ferguson to inspect the juvenile records of Michael Brown as part of their defense against a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Brown’s family.

<snip>

The order also outlines who are permitted viewers, and that includes attorneys, clerks, paralegals, legal secretaries, investigators, people present at depositions, and consulting experts.

Brown’s parents, Michael Brown Sr. and Lezley McSpadden, filed a response in opposition to the motion. The “request to inspect the juvenile records of Michael Brown Jr. flies in the face of all policy and legislative intent to protect juvenile records,” it said.

The petitioners requesting access to the records also include lawyers for former Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson and former police officer Darren Wilson, who fatally shot Brown on Aug. 9, 2014.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/judge-orders-michael-brown-juvenile-records-released-to-lawyers/article_21d1a31b-5d46-5fa0-bc96-178284ca20ed.html

[TexasTowelie]

1. Yes, Michael Brown did an outstanding job on his records

when he was the keyboardist and composer with The Left Banke back in the 1960s. However, I see no reason why a judge would order that his records be released to lawyers after all of this time when they are already in the public domain.

[LiberalFighter]

2. Will the personel records of police officers and their supervisors also be included?

[Akicita]

4. I am sure they will be. At least any cops who had contact with Michael Brown.

[cstanleytech]

3. I am not really surprised that they gained access. NT

[Akicita]

5. I don't think the lsgislature's intent was to protect juvenile records or juveniles' legacies.

I believe the intent was to protect juveniles and adults from being hurt later in life from youthful indiscretions they committed as juveniles. In this case, Brown's juvy records are not being used to hurt him, he's already deceased, but to defend the citizens of Ferguson from being financially hurt by the Brown family. I don't have a problem with the judges decision. Sounds like the records won't be made public anyway, although I'm not sure why they shouldn't be.