Federal Judiciary

GUILT BY ASSOCIATION 
By Mark Thompson
markthomp@yahoo.com
Posted 10-08-08

New York County Family Court Judge Jody Adams leapt to the conclusion that a mother abused and neglected her children -- who were subsequently taken away from her -- because her boyfriend violently shook his own child, the Appellate Division said.

The unanimous appellate panel produced an opinion which noted, in measured terms, that since there was no evidence that the mother was aware of her boyfriend’s rough handling of his child, there was no basis for Adams’ conclusion that the mother derivatively abused her own children. But, in a concurring opinion, two judges were not so circumspect in explaining their vote to reverse the Family Court ruling. 

Full post as published by Judicial Reports on October 08, 2008 (boomark / email).