Judge to Review Boy Scouts’ Abuse Files, Delaying Release
August 16, 2012 | Read Time: 1 minute
An Oregon judge will review samples of the Boy Scouts of America’s so-called “perversion files” on sex-abuse allegations against Scout leaders in order to decide on the organization’s request for extensive redactions, says the Associated Press.
The Oregon Supreme Court approved the release of 20,000 pages of files in a June ruling, ordering that the names of alleged victims and people who reported the incidents be redacted. The national Scouts organization has requested that the names of other Scouts, parents, and volunteers also be removed to protect them from embarrassment or retaliation.
Judge John Wittmayer said Tuesday that he wanted to review six sample files, delaying the release order.
Attorneys for the alleged abuse victims whose case triggered the fight over releasing the files oppose the further redactions, saying they would “gut the value” of the documents.
