[DiogenesLamp]

A juvenile judge later ordered them destroyed but with no explanation as to why. Since the matter never reached a court, there is now the issue of whether the judge had the authority to order police to get rid of them.

I think it is a courtesy for a Judge to explain his order, not a requirement. I think if they had such an order from a Judge, they needed to comply with it. I can think of all sorts of conditions under which a Judge would have no interest in explaining the reasons for his order, especially as relates to juvenile incidents.

[gdani]

I think it is a courtesy for a Judge to explain his order, not a requirement.

Correct. But it would be nice to know on what legal authority the judge based his decision. Thus far, he refuses to answer.

I think if they had such an order from a Judge, they needed to comply with it.

I think that was what the police thought, too. But it still does not mean the judge had the authority to issue the order. It sounds more like small-town politics to me.