Posted on 03/25/2014 3:01:56 PM PDT by Morgana
A long-running child custody case took a dramatic turn Tuesday, when a Massachusetts juvenile court judge awarded “permanent” custody of teen-ager Justina Pelletier to the state Department of Children and Families.
The ruling by Judge Joseph Johnston leaves it up to the agency, not the court, to decide whether or when Pelletier should be returned to her West Hartford, Conn., home.
“It’s a huge ruling,” said a person who had been briefed on the decision. “It’s a setback for the parents.”
This person said the state, which has had temporary custody of Pelletier for more than a year, has no immediate plans to have the 15-year-old sent back home, or to a facility in her home state.
But a decision to award permanent custody can be revisited by the judge after six months, at the parents’ request. The judge made his order retroactive to late December, so a review could occur as soon as early summer.
Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Washington D.C.-based Christian Defense Coalition, who has become the parents’ spokesman, said Tuesday that Lou and Linda Pelletier are “outraged” by the decision, though they have yet to get a written copy of it.
“There is no reason Justina should not be returned immediately back to the parents,” he said.
Mahoney said the parents continue to believe that their daughter is being “treated as a pawn and piece of property.”
Judge Johnston also denied a request by out-of-state lawyer Mathew Staver of Liberty Counsel in Florida to represent the girl’s parents.
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonglobe.com ...
God damned evil bastards.
I’m sorry, God.
I would view this as nothing but kidnapping if this were to happen with any of my children, and I would treat it accordingly. The responsible individuals have to sleep somewhere....
This is what happens when the Govt has too much power..THEY decide what happens to a child, NOT the parents..this is kidnapping and this will continue to happen under Obamacare..Govt decides what is best for the “Collective” not the parents
Which party appointed this judge? I’ll give you a hint, it starts with Dumb.
I knew this was coming because of the judge’s repeated delays in delivering his decision. If he was going to return custody to the parents, he would have done so almost immediately and no shilly shallying about.
What is the family going to do now. Can they appeal to a higher court, to federal court?
Yep.
I think this despicable judge is simply trying to absolve himself of ANY responsibility for this tortured girl when he decided to assign responsibility to the State.
Both the involved hospital, the State and this Judge ARE RESPONSIBLE for this girl’s condition. They are doing all they can to keep her out of the hands of medical doctors who could render a diagnosis at odds with THEIR diagnosis and treatment.
Perhaps only once the girl is dead and an autopsy conducted will any of these vile creatures admit that “well, maybe she did suffer from more than neurosis”.
EVERY single one of the girl’s tormentors need to be fired, have their professional credentials revoked and sued into lifetime poverty.
This is a self fulfilling ruling. They have concluded she has psychiatric conditions, keep her in a locked facility and after treatment, she undoubtedly will have psychiatric conditons. I suspect she will not be released when she reaches majority, if she lives that long and the state can keep her forever to assure proof that they are right.
This is the young woman before
... and after State interference.
Kidnapping with the force of law behind the perps.
I saw this on Fox a couple of times-as for the judge and the state-que Dios los castigue...
I hope no parent ever trusts an institution of any kind again-get a lawyer first. I hope these parents get their daughter back on appeal-and a hefty settlement, too...
Why is it that “liberals” always turn into jack booted fascists?
[ because they already are]
“...once the girl is dead and an autopsy conducted...” If there’s an autopsy, it will say whatever the state wants it to say, and the remains will be quickly cremated before the parents know anything about it.
Mr. Pelletier should just tell the Democratic judge that he’s a child molester, and then the judge will give him custody back in a heartbeat on the grounds that he deserves “a second chance”.
That isn’t what they need.
I’ll leave it at that.
The judge should be taken out of the picture by those who are more sensible and the replacement judge should be judged by the more sensible.
Sadly not unbelievable. Some states and the feds are completely out of control.
This is ####ed up.
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