Parker has little to say after meeting with judge

Parker Jensen, whose parents have defied the state's effort to force chemotherapy for his diagnosed cancer, had little to say Friday after a private meeting with the juvenile court judge involved in his precedent-setting case.

"My attorney has advised me not to comment," the 12-year-old said after spending 15 minutes alone in chambers with Judge Robert Yeates as his parents and attorneys waited in the courtroom. Parker acknowledged that the judge was nice, but he had no comment about their conversation or how he is feeling.

His parents, Daren and Barbara Jensen, are set to stand trial Nov. 17 before Yeates on charges of medical neglect. Daren Jensen was asked whether he was concerned about letting his son speak to the judge alone.

"Parker knows what he knows," Daren Jensen told reporters gathered at the Matheson Courthouse. "I'm not sure what transpired but we'll just have to see." He said he did not know what questions the judge asked of his son.

Parker has been diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, by four doctors. His parents believe the diagnoses are inconclusive and have refused chemotherapy, saying its side effects are not only extremely toxic but will stunt his growth and make him sterile.

Daren Jensen declined to comment on whether the state has given up on trying to force Parker to undergo chemotherapy. "I don't have a comment on that," he said. "We're in discussions about resolutions and that's all I can say." The judge has the option of ordering Parker back into state custody and mandating that he receive chemotherapy.

The state's two main child welfare agencies on Sept. 29 announced they were backing away from forcing the boy into chemotherapy, despite having legal authority to do so and saying in early August they would take him into custody if necessary.

Attorney Blake Nakamura, who is representing Daren and Barbara Jensen, said both the judge and a representative of the Guardian Ad Litem's Office had an opportunity to meet privately with Parker.

"It was a good meeting. It achieved its purpose, I believe, and we're all hoping we'll reach a resolution in this case," Nakamura said, describing the purpose as only "an exchange of information between Parker and the court."

An attorney hired to represent Parker in the ongoing court battle apparently was not allowed into the judge's chambers. She declined to identify herself or speak to reporters after spending more than two hours with the family.