On this date: December 18, 1979

Judge John P. Lavelle has announced plans to lift the “shroud of secrecy” that has prevailed in past Juvenile Court cases in Carbon County.

Feeling that the public is entitled to know the disposition of all such cases, he is undertaking a new policy which is intended to “deal expeditiously” with matters heard in the court involving individuals of juvenile age.

While the identity of such offenders will continue to be presented in nonviolent cases, those who transgress against the law in a violent nature will have their names released to the news media, as opposed to the court previously having withheld all data incident to juvenile cases, the Lehighton jurist said.