Misconduct Charges Against Family Court Judge Michael Livingstone

[Jane Smith Org]

Seeking your help and support creating public awareness of abusive judicial practices in our courts - particularly regarding Judge Michael J. Livingstone, Plymouth County Family and Probate Court.

Judge Livingstone appointed in 2002. In his 5 years he has the following distinctions

1. The most appealed Justice in the Commonwealth - 54 cases per http://www.ma-appellatecourts.org/search_judg ....

2. The first Justice in the Commonwealth in approximately 20 years to have misconduct charges filed against him by the Supreme Judicial Court - See Boston Globe article
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/200 ...

3. Sending an innocent man to jail. See: WVCB Boston Channel.com story at http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/14763949 ...

4. The highest contempt incarceration of any Judge in New England (according to blogger Chris of Needham Ma on blog found at topix.com/city/newbedford

I am compiling an archive of articles and cases for the press and public to use in creating awareness/pressure for the Judge to resign. Case docket numbers and personal identities will be held in the strictest confidence unless use is authorized or required by the Governor's office/appointee for verification.

I hope that by focusing on the obvious need for discipline with Judge Livingstone, collectively we may be able to influence broader action in our Judicial system. To raise the bar on professionalism and to insist on enforcing the Justices directive to make decisions in the best interest of the children of every family as provided for in our current set of laws.
If you have personal experience in Judge Livingstone's court, or know of someone who is willing to contribute, please ask them to do one or more of the following:

1. Send a letter to the Governor citing the injustice witnessed/experienced. cc Press and cc me at:
Jane Smith UPS Box
759 CJC Hwy Rte 3A #263
Cohasset, MA 02025

or [e-mail]

Please provide me with an email address to keep you informed.

2. Break the silence and SHARE! Tell the stories of those who have been damaged by Judge Livingstone's bad decisions. Get over the insecurities and lack of confidence caused by his abuse - turn it into strength and focus.

3. Check in and participate in as many blogs about this topic as possible. See: http://seekingjustice4mafamili esandchildren.b...

4. Check in at www.ma.gov/cjc "press releases" regularly to learn of the hearing date, location and be at the hearing. Bring support in the form of friends and family.

THANK YOU in advance for caring enough to read this, hopefully participating in our efforts to expand awareness thus influencing action.
Keep in touch at http://seekingjustice4mafamili esandchildren.b...

[Jane Smith]

Oops! Sorry for the multiple posting Norwell!

I was attempting to post once in each Plymouth County Town.

In any case, please look over the posting and comment. Judicial Misconduct impacts all of us indirectly and directly through increased need for public services etc. Please keep this dialogue going.

THANK YOU!

[mom loses rights]

Jane Smith wrote:

Oops! Sorry for the multiple posting Norwell!
I was attempting to post once in each Plymouth County Town.
In any case, please look over the posting and comment. Judicial Misconduct impacts all of us indirectly and directly through increased need for public services etc. Please keep this dialogue going.
THANK YOU!The more postings the better. Not only this man but NUMEROUS PROBATE COURT JUDGES need to be STOPPED in ALL the COURTS IN MASSACHUSETTS...

help us all

[Jane Smith]

Thank you "mom" for your comment!
Do you have a story to share?
Please email me at [e-mail]
You may be interested in the blog dealing with the specifics of charges filed against Judge Livingstone.
http://seekingjustice4mafamiliesandchildren.b...
Ideally, this blog effort will lead to more interest in reform of our Judicial Review process.
Thanks again!!... and I hope you re-gain your rights!

[mom loses rights]

The two case numbers are 00W0727-PA1 and also 00W0727-GP1. Start the file from March 22, 2006. Very interesting. Yet very sad. A change of venue was requested whereas neither party resides in Plymouth county yet Livingston will not do a change of venue. Instead, he assigned another judge who to date is following his doings in the case. JUSTICE FOR ALL? THINK NOT. The best interest of children is NOT being considered. They will NOT even hear EMERGENCY MOTIONS. Have you ever heard of a Judge and I'm not reffering to Livingston that would ask a female to remove her outer garment being a zip up sweatshirt in court and did NOT ask anyone else before her that day to do likewise? STRANGE. Please post dates of hearings. Again, we filed complaints with the cajc in October and have yet to hear anything. I did pass out forms others in probate were filing on him as well as the clipping on him from the newspaper article.

[Jane Smith Org]

Wow. Thank you. I'll figure out how to look up the cases, read, summarize and publish something -withholding names. No need to cause more harm to this woman and her family.

Would you be kind enough to share a copy of the forms you passed out? Do you recall which newspaper article? I probably have it already, but am always looking for new.

Please mail to:
Jane Smith UPS box
759 CJC Hwy Rte 3A #263
Cohasset, Ma 02025

If you are local saving postage, ask Gary the UPS store owner if he'd be kind enough to leave the copy in the #263 box. A dear friend is allowing us to use her company UPS address pro bono.

Unfortunately, It's common knowledge among attorney's that Judges support each other VERY strongly. The actual law often appears to be less important than the perceived respect/comaraderie of their peers gained through the managing the process of the law, not the intent, and the power a Judge can influence via process - with little regard for the realistic impact on families and children.

[mom loses rights]

The forms I passed out were from the Commission Against Judical Conduct Office in Boston. The newspaper clipping was in the Brockton Enterprise. These two court cases were heard in Plymouth County and should have legally been changed by venue to either Bristol or Norfolk County which was denied. Good luck please keep in touch. Please keep us advised of any and all updates. Our next court date is February 12th in Brockton Family Probate Court. You may want to be present then. We've seen and written down cases which were totally off the wall. One in particular Judge Livingstone telling a father that he'd quit his job before he paid that amount for child support. Many others VERY INTERESTING.

[Jane Smith]

Thank you.

I put the court date on my calendar. If I can't be there, a colleague probably will be.

I am particualarly interested in the case where Judge Livingstone made the child support comment. Would like to know the docket# if possible.

I know a woman who, when denied her request for removal to more affordable Southern Maine with family support, better work prospects, and about 90 minutes from the dad who has plenty of money, could actually increase parenting time, but refused to have a discussion about the issue and refused to contribute equitably when cost and circumstances merited, was ordered by Judge Livingstone to not relocate beyond 30 minutes of her current address.... which is largely high rent district or ocean. Father isn't expected to help with increased costs of providing for child depsite continued salary and bonus increases, inheritance and pension. Judge also found her in contempt for ... I don't remember the details, but it was devastating. She couldn't talk about it for months without breaking down.

Thank you again for sharing. I hope more do and we can collectively influence change.

[mom loses rights]

I certainly hope SOMEONE starts a class action law suit against this judge and or the commonwealth of ma. I am mailing you a copy of the form I handed out in court. Have you ever heard of a judge denying a mother to file for custody of her child because of pending charges. This was a judgement order by Livingston. He also refused to cut her child support payments down to the state guidelines. This mother is now on disability and another judge will not hear an emergency motion to cease her child support payments. All is scheduled for February 12 th at Brockton Probate. Not to mention that the father of the child has claimed to be unemployed since 2004. He is a drug dealer. Too much to get into detail on here. I believe the cases I was referring to were heard in Brockton Family court on 9-26-07. This was all recorded in the court records. At 10:45 am the judge made the comment why would the father work there would be nothing left for him to live on after taxes and child support. This case was a Danielle and David Shinken? Other cases that were nuts were Megan Casey or Kasey/Charlotte and James Owen/Carol and Henry Young case the Livingstone said the husband was justified to leave her she requested Livingstone recluse himself so he did/Christine Jones/Keely Johnson Shawn Brennan. I STRONGLY suggest you get a transcript of 9/26/07 Livingstone recordings of cases.

[mom loses rights]

I typed in a lengthy response which showed posted with cases from 9/26/07 in the morning with Livingstone and now is not showing up.

[mom loses rights]

I suggest you get the court recordings of that morning cases heard before Livingstone it is very interesting to say the least. I mentioned the case names on here for you which showed posted now is not coming up.

[mom loses rights]

Hopefully, we can meet in person on February 12th at 9am. I can at that time present you with actual documents.

[mom loses rights]

There were at least five or six people on 9/26/07 that were going to file the complaint forms I passed out that day on Livingstone for their own problems with him.

[mom loses rights]

Jane are you an attorney?

[Jane Smith]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I will do my best to get researching. And will be sure to meet you at court. I won't want to take time from you and your client or attorney, so perhaps we can schedule a follow up after your appearance.

No, I am not an attorney... but I work with a local law firm as business consultant. We talk and learn from each other. Also, I've worked with both small local attorney's and a very large Regional firm on my own Livingstone nightmares including appeal. When others began coming to me for assistance, I've always tried to help - especially urging their attorney to avoid a Livingstone court regardless of who's side they were on.

In October I was traveling and saw the Charges against Judge Livingstone in USA Today, wrote to the governor in November sharing my, and 3 other stories. In December learned of the innocent man sent to jail and couldn't bear to continue to sit idly watching children growing up with the idea of their father having been in jail.

This Wednesday I and 2 colleagues are telephone conferencing with a nationally recognized marketing guru to help us figure out how to bring awareness to the blog, and gain other ideas for achieving the near term goal of getting press re: Judge Livingstone.

Funny, I was again in Judge Livingstone's court 9/16/07 re: contempt. Judge Livingstone said.." If I wanted to find you in contempt I could. It says right here you were to provide the check, you didn't. Do you want me to find in you in contempt and pay HER fees?" Ouch, fees were $11,000. the former spouse has it, I don't. That was the whole point of the action.

Thank you again. Let’s keep a dialogue on this site, I will continue to post in other areas too and let everyone know the ideas/strategies that form after our Wednesday meeting. Perhaps a voluntary survey of court participants – handed out once a week at court – postage paid for return to Jane Smith Org? Hmmmm. We could present results to CJC, Governor, others ?

See you in court – hopefully with positive outcomes this time!

[mom loses rights]

Let me tell you honestly. The things the judge has done in this ONE case of ours should be enough to file one hell of a DISCRIMINATION case AGAINST him.. Hopefully, you will have time to chat. Then when Judge Roberts took over the case, she asked no one before her in court but one individual to remove her outer garment. I would not have removed my zip up sweat shirt for her or anyone else. This was not an offensive sweatshirt. It was a red zip up sweatshirt with a small disney Eyeor on the front. Just another form of causing embarassment to an individual. You will laugh when we speak and you realize why this case is being treated so badly. It's a whos who in the hall of fame.

[mom loses rights]

When I brought up my rights Livingstone told me that the law reads either may or will or shall and it's his discretion. He then had the sessions clerk just happen to print out a case for me to read and learn about the law. Arrogant bastard. Kicker was the case he had the sessions clerk print had nothing to do with me nor my case.

[mom loses rights]

The sadest part of all this is, it's not just Livingstone nor probate court. It is 99% of the courts in Ma. probate, district, housing, superior. It's all who you know. Experienced in all aspects personally. Hope to chat on February 12th or at least set up an appointment to do so.

[peek-a-boo]

this is what you do, get a petitions started, that how you get bad judges out of there sit, we should throw the judges out that dont do right or hold up the laws, they need to enforce them we got to many people getting away without doing time in jail for there crimes, and when they go to jail they get out to soon, we need to put a stop to this, our family and friends are at risk because of thi,

[mom loses rights]

Jane, hopefully all goes extremely well today for you with your conference call. Haven't heard nor seen you respond for a few days now. GOD SPEED