Now is your chance.
If you’re one of the many families who have been before Judge Abbie L. Ross, this your chance.
The public hearing will cover approx. 60 different bills. You get all of 3 minutes to make your case, possibly. most likely, not a shot at all, but you can submit testimony in writing. Best to try both.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
(EXCERPT – SEE FULL NOTICE AT BOTTOM OF THIS POSTING)
Date of Hearing: Friday, October 29, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Location: Virtual Hearing
Court Administration
The Chair will limit testimony to three minutes per person and reserves the right to call public officials out of turn. The public is invited to participate in this virtual hearing, which will be live streamed on the Legislature’s website.
To register to testify, please provide contact information on the linked form by 5:00 p.m. on October 28, 2021. Once registered, you will receive further instruction on how to participate after the deadline expires and the form closes. Written testimony may be submitted to the Committee in Room 136 or by e-mail to jacqueline.o.manning@mahouse.gov.
| H3723 | Mirra, Lenny (HOU) | Resolutions requesting the Governor to remove Judge Abbie L Ross from the Essex County Family and Probate Court |
FROM OUT PRINTED OCT. 2021 EDITION:
MASSACHUSETTS PROBATE COURT HORRORS
A Father Should Have Rights Especially When All Children Live with Him
by Walter F. Sorenson, Jr.
Groveland, Mass.
Can you imagine having to pay more than $9,000 per month in support to your ex-wife, when she has no kids living with her to support?
This isn’t fiction. In fact, August 17, 2021 marked the sad 4-year anniversary of trying to retain and obtain child support for my three children who live with me, full time.
Yes, you read that right. Despite having my three children live with me full-time, I’m forced to pay more than $9,000 in child support, each and every month.
For years I’ve been fighting the courts and one judge in particular and getting slammed. I thought it was just me, but soon learned that many others are also placed in jeopardy. Now as my youngest approaches the legal age of 18, and all three live with me full-time, it’s shocking to look back on this emotional and financial roller coaster.
A few highlights: On August 17, 2017 I filed a “Modification” in the Salem Probate and Family Court to once again request release from an oppressive $9,280/month mandate to pay a mother who has no children living with her, and who is well educated and has been fully employed for more than three decades. That I have to take money from my children defies all logic, common sense, and alleges a corrupt legal system. But there’s more.
The child support and alimony amounts were increased more than 300% during what’s called a “Modification Process” by Salem Probate Judge Abbe L. Ross (now removed from my case, after years of tortuous and arbitrary rulings – my words, but her superiors used worse words, see below). I truly believe there is no other explanation for the incredible increases in support payments except for one word: revenge. Revenge against me for fighting Judge Ross, and in one appeal, winning.
In June of 2018 I appealed Judge Ross’s actions and inactions and I was supported by the appeals court which ruled in my favor and stated in part that her dismissal of my requests were “Legally Erroneous and an Abuse of Discretion.”
I can’t begin to tell you how many hundreds of court pleadings I have had to file to protect my children, only to have Judge Ross deny them all without ever reading them. Her actions prolonged the pain and suffering of my family, and at one point, was the cause of two of my children running away (essentially going into hiding)! I cannot begin to share the emotions involved in such family problems resulting from Judge Ross.
Put aside for a moment the sheer insanity of subjecting me to outrageous legal fees and being forced to reward my employed ex with $9,280 per month in so-called support, and think about the family issues we have all had to contend with because of this judge.
I tried fighting back, and I continue to fight hard for my children in a corrupt system for who else if not the father who loves them.
One thing that amazed me:
Along the way I’ve found out that I’m not alone: There are more than 200 open, serious complaints against Judge Ross from more than 65 of her victims, all sitting with the Commission on Judicial Conduct (CJC).
Going Beyond the Judge/Dictators
In March, I worked to have filed at the Massachusetts State House a Bill of Address to Remove Judge Abbe L. Ross. Months later, the bill (H-3723) was sent to committee for hearings. Dozens of families harmed by Judge Ross sent in documentation showing abuse and harm, and signed up for future testimony including adult children directly harmed by her.
Some of these cases and others were mentioned in the media: Mass. Lawyers Weekly (April 2021), Boston Broadside (May 2021), Commonwealth Magazine (June 2021), Lynn Item (May 2021), Rumbo News (May, June and July 2021) and others in print, web articles, television, cable and YouTube interviews disclosing corruption in the probate court and other direct victims of Judge Abbe L. Ross.
The list is also a long list of misfiled, mysteriously lost, or delayed actions on various court filings.
The courts failed to police themselves. So, who is in charge to correct these wrongs? Anyone?
Essex County Probate Court was the third stop for Judge Abbe L. Ross, this after the SJC activated the Catholic Church Rotation Program for bad Judges. Her abuses of the system began in Suffolk County then Middlesex and now in Essex County. With lots of support growing for Bill H-3723, upcoming hearings and testimony from an increasing number of victims, hopefully the Legislature will make this and other bad judges in Massachusetts with similar Bills of Address filed, their last stop!
Please support these bills! These bills will hold the judges accountable and hopefully some jail time for the harm they have done.
Just last month at least three more “Motions to Recuse” Judge Ross were filed in the Salem Probate Court to remove her from three different cases. Several recent public filings in the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC), and the Appeals and Probate Courts, have pointed to alleged corruption, possible payoffs, judicial favoritism towards attorneys who support judges publicly, (Lawyers Weekly 4-2021), SJC and Massachusetts ethics violations. To include alleged cover-ups by both the Board of Bar Overseers (BBO) and the SJC, both governed by lawyers and judges to discipline lawyers (BBO) and judges (SJC). Basically, the fox guarding the hen house.
A recent case of Dereliction of Duty against both the SJC and BBO is pending in the SJC, (SJ-2021-0234), and as of this date neither the BBO nor SJC has responded. All documents are public and should be disclosed by the press. The self preservation BBO and SJC need to be completely fired and a new civilian board put in their place to review complaints against lawyers and judges for a true oversight board in Massachusetts, similar to the recent legislation passed in 2020 for a Civilian Police Review Board. ♦
From: Manning, Jacqueline O. (HOU) <Jacqueline.O.Manning@mahouse.gov>
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2021 4:55 PM
Subject: Judiciary Hearing, Court Administration- Friday, October 29 @ 10AM
| The Commonwealth of MassachusettsJOINT COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133 |
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
| Rep. Michael S. Day | Sen. James B. Eldridge |
| House Chair | Senate Chair |
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Date of Hearing: Friday, October 29, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Location: Virtual Hearing
Court Administration
The Chair will limit testimony to three minutes per person and reserves the right to call public officials out of turn. The public is invited to participate in this virtual hearing, which will be live streamed on the Legislature’s website.
To register to testify, please provide contact information on the linked form by 5:00 p.m. on October 28, 2021. Once registered, you will receive further instruction on how to participate after the deadline expires and the form closes. Written testimony may be submitted to the Committee in Room 136 or by e-mail to jacqueline.o.manning@mahouse.gov.
| Bill No. | Sponsor | Title |
| H1474 | Cabral, Antonio F. D. (HOU) | An Act relative to transparency in clerk magistrate hearings |
| H1476 | Cabral, Antonio F. D. (HOU) | An Act relative to improving the administration and efficiency of the judicial system |
| H1499 | Cronin, Claire D. (HOU) | An Act relative to witness fees for retired police officers |
| H1503 | Cronin, Claire D. (HOU) | An Act relative to the management of the several clerks of court |
| H1511 | Day, Michael S. (HOU) | An Act for providing for the training, continuing training, and education of judges, and other legal hearing officers |
| H1518 | Day, Michael S. (HOU) | An Act relative to clarity and consistency for the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board |
| H1520 | Day, Michael S. (HOU) | An Act to improve and modernize the information technology systems and capacities of the judiciary |
| H1526 | Decker, Marjorie C. (HOU) | An Act requiring the relocation of the Cambridge District Court |
| H1624 | Gouveia, Tami L. (HOU) | An Act regarding district court jurisdiction of threats to use deadly weapons, explosives, chemical or biological agents, or other devices or substances capable of causing death, serious bodily injury or substantial property damage |
| H1625 | Haddad, Patricia A. (HOU) | Resolutions requesting the Governor (with consent of the council) to remove Susan L. Jacobs from the office of Associate Justice of the Bristol Probate and Family Court of Bristol County |
| H1631 | Harrington, Sheila C. (HOU) | An Act relative to judicial case managers and assistant judicial case managers for the Middlesex Probate and Family Court |
| H1632 | Harrington, Sheila C. (HOU) | An Act relative to assistant registers and administrative deputy assistants for the Middlesex Probate and Family Court |
| H1664 | Holmes, Russell E. (HOU) | An Act designating the Charlestown division of Boston Municipal Court as the George Lewis Ruffin Courthouse |
| H1672 | Hunt, Daniel J. (HOU) | An Act reducing the storage of obsolete papers |
| H1673 | Hunt, Daniel J. (HOU) | An Act related to indigency |
| H1674 | Hunt, Daniel J. (HOU) | An Act relative to the protection of the families of violent crime from intimidation |
| H1696 | Jones, Jr., Bradley H. (HOU) | An Act relative to juror service |
| H1728 | Linsky, David Paul (HOU) | An Act providing a stipend for first justices and regional administrative justices |
| H1736 | Linsky, David Paul (HOU) | An Act to enhance safety and security in courthouses |
| H1738 | Linsky, David Paul (HOU) | An Act regulating fees for the registration of attorneys |
| H1780 | Markey, Christopher M. (HOU) | An Act relative to district court jurisdiction |
| H1796 | Miranda, Liz (HOU) | An Act relative to reasonable compensation for equitable representation |
| H1805 | Moran, Frank A. (HOU) | An Act relative to the District Court of Lawrence |
| H1814 | Murphy, James M. (HOU) | An Act regarding Chapter 277 |
| H1829 | Peake, Sarah K. (HOU) | An Act relative to the jurisdiction of the housing court |
| H1843 | Ramos, Orlando (HOU) | An Act establishing a commission to study judicial accountability in the Commonwealth |
| H1866 | Sabadosa, Lindsay N. (HOU) | An Act to track the implementation of the Brangan ruling |
| H1875 | Smola, Todd M. (HOU) | An Act relative to court filing fees |
| H1878 | Straus, William M. (HOU) | An Act relative to stenographers and transcribers |
| H1889 | Tucker, Paul F. (HOU) | An Act relative to the safety of courthouses and remote court proceedings |
| H1890 | Tucker, Paul F. (HOU) | An Act relative to enhancing courthouse security |
| H1897 | Tucker, Paul F. (HOU) | An Act adjusting the salaries of the judicial branch |
| H1902 | Tyler, Chynah (HOU) | An Act to designate the courthouse in the Roxbury section of the city of Boston as the Edward O. Gourdin Courthouse |
| H1906 | Tyler, Chynah (HOU) | An Act protecting the safety of victims of violent crimes |
| H1923 | Whelan, Timothy R. (HOU) | An Act relative to Trial Court data collection |
| H1927 | Whipps, Susannah M. (HOU) | An Act relative to the efficient management and operation of the registries of probate |
| H1933 | Zlotnik, Jonathan D. (HOU) | An Act relative to Gardner District Court |
| H3723 | Mirra, Lenny (HOU) | Resolutions requesting the Governor to remove Judge Abbie L Ross from the Essex County Family and Probate Court |
| H3840 | Ramos, Orlando (HOU) | Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution to require reappointment of judges every 5 years |
| S911 | Barrett, Michael J. (SEN) | An Act to eliminate the public counsel fee |
| S918 | Boncore, Joseph A. (SEN) | An Act addressing racial disparity in jury selection |
| S927 | Brady, Michael D. (SEN) | An Act relative to benefits for court officers |
| S934 | Brownsberger, William N. (SEN) | An Act related to indigency |
| S963 | Creem, Cynthia Stone (SEN) | An Act to amend G.L. c. 221 § 27A: Obsolete or useless papers; disposition, destruction or storage |
| S987 | Crighton, Brendan P. (SEN) | An Act relative to the efficient management and operation of the registries of probate |
| S995 | DiDomenico, Sal N. (SEN) | An Act relative to housing court jurisdiction |
| S999 | DiDomenico, Sal N. (SEN) | An Act relative to the management of the several clerks of court |
| S1017 | DiZoglio, Diana (SEN) | An Act to strengthen rules governing attorney conduct; penalties for misconduct |
| S1039 | Gobi, Anne M. (SEN) | An Act relative to the Gardner District Court |
| S1040 | Gobi, Anne M. (SEN) | An Act establishing a commission to study judicial accountability in the Commonwealth |
| S1054 | Hinds, Adam G. (SEN) | An Act enhancing data transparency within the prosecutorial system |
| S1062 | Keenan, John F. (SEN) | An Act relative to examinations for applicants to the trial court |
| S1066 | Kennedy, Edward J. (SEN) | An Act incentivizing the use of public transportation by jurors |
| S1069 | Lewis, Jason M. (SEN) | An Act reforming the judicial system |
| S1078 | Lewis, Jason M. (SEN) | An Act providing for the improvement of required standards of Clerk Magistrates |
| S1079 | Lewis, Jason M. (SEN) | Resolve for a commission to review, replace, and eliminate the Grand Jury System |
| S1081 | Lewis, Jason M. (SEN) | An Act providing for the development of a Graduate Judicial Training School |
| S1104 | Moore, Michael O. (SEN) | An Act to enhance courthouse security |
| S1107 | Moore, Michael O. (SEN) | An Act relative to the safety of courthouses and remote court proceedings |
| S1108 | Moore, Michael O. (SEN) | An Act improving the quality of courthouse security |
| S1142 | Tarr, Bruce E. (SEN) | An Act relative to the tracking of medical malpractice cases |
Please be advised that the schedule and agenda are subject to change at the discretion of the chair per committee rules. You may contact Committee staff with any questions at dianna.williams@mahouse.gov and jacqueline.o.manning@mahouse.gov.
For specific questions about senate bills, you may contact Michael Carr at michael.carr@masenate.gov.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline Manning
Communications/ Research Director
Representative Michael Day
31st Middlesex District
Chairman, Joint Committee on the Judiciary
State House, Room 136
P: (617) 722-2396
Proudly serving the towns of Stoneham and Winchester
I have met her honor Abbie L. R. That encounter left me with a 20,000.00+ in child support. I don’t find solace in knowing that some other men have had worse experiences than me with the judge. The problem is not only that specific one judge. The clerk was worse than the judge. The NGOs working in the court also are terrifying to me. Vic and Kim are the two others who are in it with them… something must be done for the children. But what, how?
I am afraid of a System which protects one party in detriment of the other based on gender or financial situation. Children need the current child support law and child born out of wedlock law to be fixed, changed.