California Court of Appeal

The juvenile court's order allowing access by the Los Angeles Times to the dependency proceedings, in compliance with a blanket order from the presiding judge of the juvenile court, is reversed and remanded, where: 1) the blanket order, by declaring the press cannot be excluded until an objection is made and harm to the child is demonstrated, conflicts with Welfare and Institutions Code section 346; 2) the blanket order interferes with the discretion section 346 vests in the court to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether a person may be admitted to the hearing based on a "direct and legitimate interest in the particular case or the work of the court;" and accordingly, 3) the blanket order is invalid.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/03/2014
• Published 03/03/2014

Judges

• GRIMES

Court

• California Court of Appeal

Counsel