Joseph Metz, an attorney at the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline, said a judge`s entire career is taken into account when a sanction is imposed. Family court proceedings can be particularly opaque, as the issues are often sensitive and involve children and allegations of domestic violence. But it also means that judges who may misbehave or abuse their power can do so with little public scrutiny, legal experts say. Even more alarming is the fact that Younge spent a decade in the Philadelphia child welfare unit before becoming a judge, Beeker added. “This is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said. “He was a tyrant. She was very intimidating and very angry,” Kress said. “Never, in a million years, would I have thought our justice system was like this. I never thought judges would do that and get away with it. Family judges first need a four-year bachelor`s degree.
While a specific major is not required for aspiring judges, it is beneficial to focus on topics related to family law issues, such as family and child psychology. There are no formal requirements for a judge to specialize in family courts. However, some jurisdictions seek to engage or encourage family judges to acquire training and experience on issues relating to the nature of family court proceedings. For example, children`s developmental needs are an issue that is very relevant to family judges, but formal studies on this topic are generally not required. The state Judicial Conduct Board, which receives hundreds of conduct complaints each year and consists of three judges, three lawyers and six citizen members, dismisses the majority of complaints and generally concludes that there were no probable grounds for the allegations. A mistake indeed: when a judge came to a final conclusion that no other person could have reached on the basis of the evidence. An example of this could be when one parent is granted sole custody even though they have been convicted of sexually abusing a minor and the other parent has demonstrated that they are an appropriate parent with no criminal record. Family judges must meet a variety of training and certification requirements. In addition, most judges are elected or appointed to their positions, which means they are able to run a political campaign and gain political support. PHILADELPHIA — When Miltreda Kress appeared before Family Court Judge Lyris Younge, she hoped to explain why the city`s dismissal of her three underage daughters due to allegations of negligence was a mistake. The judge is responsible for the trial (trial). He hears witnesses, examines the evidence, and then decides whether the case is proven.
“If we had known how much power this judge had, we wouldn`t have emptied our bank accounts and gone nowhere,” McKale said. Most states require a law degree for judges, for which you must pass the law school entrance exam and typically complete about three additional years of schooling. You increase the likelihood of becoming a judge if you earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association. Renee Beeker, founder and president of the National Family Court Watch Project, a nonprofit organization that has observed family court cases in several states, said the effects of a judge`s bad actions can lead families to further financial hardship and cause significant trauma. She argues for greater oversight of family court judges, saying judges who win an election are often simply appointed without experience or training in family court duties. The court provides interpreters for people who come to hearings and have difficulty with English. Spanish interpreters are usually available daily at the courthouse, and interpreters for many other languages, including sign language for the hearing impaired, may be appointed by the court. The sanction against Younge is notable because formal charges against judges in Pennsylvania, as in most other states, are rarely filed. Family judges must demonstrate ethics, fairness, balance and bias to prevent abuse of power by family judges. While expertise is not a technical requirement, it is an important qualification that demonstrates merit to a potential family judge and could put you ahead of other candidates for a position.
Her three youngest daughters were separated and placed in various nursing and group homes when Kress tried to bring her back to court. Kress` experience in Younge`s courtroom had unsettled her. Alarmed by her treatment, she said she sat outside Courtroom 5A and told other parents about her experiences. She realized she wasn`t alone. “More than anywhere else, emotions are frayed in family court and judges have truly extraordinary leeway to decide life-changing things, like who gets custody of a child,” said Charles Gardner Geyh, a law professor at Indiana University who studies judicial behavior. Probation officers work for the probation department and prepare reports for judges on those involved in cases. The probation officer assigned to the courtroom is called a Court Liaison Officer (“OCOL”). The clerk or judicial assistant sits next to the judge, adjudicator or associate judge and helps prepare orders.
Jeffrey and Virginia McKale from New Jersey came before Younger in 2017 to get their two grandchildren from their addicted mother. But the McKales said Younge belittled her, prompting her to stand up during the hearing, further infuriating the judge. Any chance of getting custody was lost that day, McKale added. Family judges preside over family courts, which hear national cases such as divorce, custody, abuse and neglect. In most cases, family courts do not have a jury, and the judge is in a unique position to ensure that a fair case is pursued. Not all family law matters can be appealed. The reasons for a vocation are limited exclusively to: “How dare you separate from other families because your family is going through something,” Kress said. It makes more sense now that she did what she did, but it doesn`t do it well. Many applications for judicial positions require a history of proven legal understanding. After their appointment, judges must undergo a new period of training offered by the State.