Atomictumor

Evidently so, as Pat Hess has continued to be elected since she dealt with major custody issues in 1999. Check out what is, according to the Oak Ridger, the opinion of the ruling judge:

He says while in Judge Hess’ custody, the children suffered “numerous bug bites of unknown origin” and “only took the children to the doctor when one bite became several inches in diameter.”

He adds, “There have been several occasions when the children did not have sufficient medication for their numerous illnesses” and that “the daughter has been slapped in the face by the mother leaving bruises.”

Judge Hess also “has been unwilling or unable to communicate with the father for the welfare of the children,” the opinion says.

Damn. That’s some judgin’. But yet this woman, so adept at dealing with her own children during the dissolution of her marriage, is continuing to tell other folks what to do with their kids.

Something like this usually slips by me, but we were talking with a neighbor who, despite being divorced from an abusive husband, and despite formerly having a restraining order barring him from the kids, and despite her asking us to keep an eye on them when they played over here because she was scared to death that he was going to kidnap them, Judge Hess seems to see fit to allow joint custody of their two kids.

In fact, recently the dad in this case has taken to calling the house, speaking with the 14 yr old girl, and verbally abusing her. This guy was a real winner, let me tell you.

I don’t think he has a job, as he certainly didn’t back then. He pays no child support, and because of which forced the mom to work two jobs for a few years, until she got married again to a man who supports these kids. He did shack up with another woman after he and the mom broke up, and knocked her up, and evidently she has left him, fearing for her child.

The mom has tried to explain these things to Judge Hess, and has been silenced each time. In the meantime, Hess seems to gloss over the problems with the dad, hoping to grant custody of the kids to him. Its a scary thought.

Disclaimers: Sure, we get the moms point of view, as the dad has taken off. However, I think its a credible POV, seeing as how we knew the dad was abusive when he was there, and that the mom was afraid.
Also, sure, Judge Hess sees a lot of people, and a lot of cases. Sorry, but that’s no excuse. In my mind, the fact that she can’t negotiate a relatively painless divorce herself indicates that she is a very poor judge, and that she should be thrown out on her ear.

I’m not going to endorse anybody, because I don’t know a lot about em. I’ve heard some good about Meldrum, and I certainly like the fact that she has a fancy logo made out of her name, but I don’t think logoing indicates much in the way of judging.  I’ll also say that her new signs with a massive 3 foot tall Meldrum face indicate a certain amount of narcissism which may or may not affect skills on the bench.  Regardless, I fear you’re on your own.