Tribune’s Contempt of Court
When kids get into trouble, their names are suppressed in juvenile court proceedings; often there are other ways to find out who they are, but generally the media allow a minor his anonymity. Out at York High, each paper made its own decision. The Sun-Times, for example, didn’t print the boy’s name. The Tribune did.
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The boy’s name appeared in the next morning’s editions. Later that same day, the boy appeared in court before Associate Judge Robert Byrne. For the suspect, the judge ordered a psychiatric examination. For the media, silence.
Tribune reporter Joe Sjostrom took down the judge’s remarks in court. Reporter Jan Crawford eventually wrote the next day’s story. But neither had anything to do with the decision about how to react to Judge Byrne’s instruction. That matter was decided at the very top, in consultation with the Tribune’s legal department.
Byrne was furious. He ordered the state’s attorney to file a petition charging Sjostrom, Crawford, and the Tribune with contempt.
As for Sjostrom and Crawford . . . Thornton suggested dropping charges. We weren’t at the hearing but we can imagine how Thornton might have put it. “They’re not part of this. This is between you and me and the Constitution. Do the decent thing and lift this shadow from their lives.” The judge was not moved. As long as he has a couple of real necks by real scruffs, he’s got the Tribune’s attention.
But Hedy Weiss made a small mistake when the new year began. She wrote a list for the Sun-Times of the things that trouble her about Chicago theater. And there, in position number eight:
