In my experience in the Oakland County family law realm is that these judges just seem to do whatever they want as far as handing out punishments.

For example my ex husband and I had a disagreement about how I was to use my website. He simply asked that I remove posts about him from it, which I was happy to oblige.…

Him leaving for 2 weeks out of the country while they are in detention? Him not fighting this?

Either that or she’s a female MRA/red-piller and is punishing this woman and her children for whatever ills men may face in divorce and custody situations. Fucking lunatic.

My friend was in a nasty divorce a gazillion years ago. Her female attorney had the gall to apologize (!!!) after doing a shitty job, for believing the husband’s allegations agaisnt her and feeling sorry for him. I’m not kidding. Aaargh. I haven’t thought about this is years.

This happens way more often than you think. At the heart of it, domestic violence (perhaps ironically?) is viewed as wholly separate from family matters. That is to say, domestic violence is a criminal action, and custody matters are civil. While domestic violence can be used to influence the outcome of a custody…

Not to mention telling the kid “well your father was never charged with anything, so tough luck, you must be lying about the abuse” is INSANE. In family domestic cases reports of abuse and assault can go unreported for years out of fear of the abusers (or even to protect them in some cases) To use the fact that he was…

On the one hand, given the sensitive and confidential nature of child custody cases I try to keep in mind that there are all sorts of factors that could be in play here and strong policy reasons not to have parties arguing in the court of public opinion. On the other hand, judge is plainly acting without jurisdiction.

Weird. My husband is also an attorney, whose practice involves family law. An associate of his had an 18-year-old client ordered to attend visitation, out-of-state, with a mother he had not visited in four years. The associate attempted to appeal and got nowhere. I firmly believe family law is in dire need of reform…

It kind of sounds like the judge just personally disliked the mother and decided to punish her and the kids based on that.

Returned to their mother = very likely

How likely do you think it is that she will be disbarred and that the kids will be returned to their mother?

Yeah...I was wondering why she is took this to a personal level, all vindictive against the children and everything. Why does she come across as so bitter in this case in particular?

My first thought exactly. She’s fucking him. The way she goes after the kids it’s like she’s listened to pillow talk of him whining about how much he loves and misses the kids. Then used her authority to legally make it happen. This all seems way, way too personal.

I’ve been slightly obsessed with this since I read about it yesterday; I used to live in the county it’s happening in so it feels especially close to my heart.

I thought she perhaps had a relationship with The Children’s Village and by relationship I mean kickbacks. But your thought makes sense.

You have to understand that this judge has probably been on this case for many years. This judge knows every detail about this family’s life, and is probably sick and tired of the litigation. That does not at all excuse her behavior, but it’s not surprising for judges to get emotionally involved in cases and speak…

An MRA-apologist.

The judge? I doubt it. I don’t know what the law is re: kidnapping in MI, and I’m not sure what she did meets that standard, whatever it is.

Slightly off topic. Do you know how long a judge can drag out a case before having to make a decision about custody, especially when the child is 17 and does not want to live w/ one of the parents?

Yeah exactly. It seems like this weird contradictory ruling. First of all the 15 year old should be able to make this decision himself anyway or at least weigh in on the decision.The younger two aren’t seen as being old enough to weigh in—why would they be punished when its their mother that is seen as responsible?