In the Matter of Newton Milby Ellis, in the Matter of James Edward Coward, in the Matter of Rufus Johnson

In proceedings in the juvenile court each of the appellants was held to be within the jurisdiction of that court on the basis of a finding that he had violated the criminal law. D.C.Code 1967 § ll-1551(a) (1) (A). The proceedings in the cases of Coward and Ellis were before the court without a jury. In Johnson’s case there was a trial by jury. In each case counsel for the juvenile argued that the government was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the juvenile had committed the criminal act alleged. The court disagreed, holding that proof by a preponderance of the evidence was…