Judge Reprimanded for Yelling, Telling Litigant She Has No Clue What It Is to Be a Parent
A New Jersey judge has been reprimanded for yelling at a family court litigant, telling her she has “no clue” about what it means to be a parent.
The judge, Max Baker, has been transferred from the family division to criminal court, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports. The New Jersey Supreme Court issued the public reprimand (PDF) on Thursday, adopting the findings of the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct.
The troubles began when the litigant, identified only as Ms. P. in the presentment (PDF), appeared before Baker with the father of her child and both requested restraining orders against each other. At the end of the hearing, the father, Mr. P., said he hadn’t seen his 4-year-old daughter in about a week. After questioning Mr. P. about his living arrangements, Baker instituted a temporary visitation schedule, and this exchange followed:
Baker: “Ma’am, don’t talk. You’ve got a problem with your daughter seeing her father?”
Ms. P.: “Yes, I do, yes, I do, Your Honor, yes, I do.”
Baker: “Well, ma’am, let me tell you something.”
Ms. P.: “I do.”
Baker: “You need some serious help.”
Ms. P.: “Okay.”
Baker: “Because you have no clue what it is to be a parent.”
Ms. P.: “Okay. He has a severe mental illness.”
Baker: “Ma’am, keep your mouth quiet. When I talk, you listen. Don’t you dare talk back to me. I don’t know who you think you’re talking to, but you do not dare talk back to me. You understand that?”
In its presentment, the Advisory Committee noted it listened to a tape recording of the proceedings. “Labeling respondent’s tone as ‘harsh’ is a considerable understatement,” the committee said.
Baker had admitted he acted improperly, but said the exchange was an aberration and he was burned out from his long service as a family court judge.
