U.S. Supreme Court Cites Work By USC Professor In Ruling About Certain Statements Made By Kids

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Children's statements to teachers about potential abuse may be used as evidence in criminal cases, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 18 in a unanimous decision.

Justice Samuel Alito's opinion in Ohio v. Darius Clark cited research and a brief Thomas Lyon compiled and wrote with help from his students at USC and graduates over the past decade.

"It's been a long time coming," said Lyon, who has been teaching at USC for two decades as a professor of law and psychology.

"It was a terrific feeling to see work that I've been doing for years to not only influence the court but to influence in a way that I think will really help children," Lyon said.

The court case first began in Ohio, where Darius Clark was convicted of beating his girlfriend's 3-year-old son.

Clark appealed and won, arguing that that his constitutional right to cross-examine a witness was violated when the boy didn't testify.

"There was clear evidence the child had been pretty brutally abused, but we didn't know who it was unless we could ask the child who did it," Lyon explained.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision reversed the Ohio courts' rulings and upheld the Cleveland man's conviction.

"The defendant can challenge what statements the child made," Lyon said. "All this opinion means is that it's not an absolute prerequisite that the child testify for the evidence to be considered by the jury."

Lyon feels the decision will help other children who are too afraid, confused or immature to take the stand but have told a teacher in a cry for help.

Lyon says he's now working with the Los Angeles County juvenile court system to record interviews with young children and reduce the need for them to testify.