Accusations of Judicial Misconduct In Marin County

By Christina Rentz

Published on September 30, 2005

Critics of the Marin family courts claim that judges habitually side with well-to-do litigants and lawyers in divorce and child custody cases. Critics also say that, as a direct result of this favoritism, children in Marin County sometimes end up living with the parent accused of physical or sexual abuse instead of the parent who is trying to protect the child.

These accusations are nothing new to Marin family courts. In 2000, similar allegations of blatant favoritism were made in a report by New York investigator Karen Winner. These allegations prompted a recall of the election of three family court judges. Although the recalls were unsuccessful, they led to some much needed changes, including the establishment of a judge rotation.

However, protestors outside the courtroom who are raising new accusations of judicial misconduct say the changes have been ineffectual or insufficient. Jonea Rogers agrees. She violated her child custody agreement and fled from California with her daughter after the family courts repeatedly ignored the abusive accusations she alleged against her ex-husband. After a three year hiatus, she was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. The family court gave her ex-husband full custody of their daughter and granted him permission to move to Hawaii, where Jonea says it is very difficult for her to visit frequently.

Protestors plan to demonstrate outside the courthouse every week in October in hopes that someone will start to listen.

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