Editor’s note: Resource Perspectives features articles written by members of Lovefraud’s Professional Resources Guide.
Rebecca Potter works as a licensed mental health counselor in West Palm Beach, Florida. She can be reached at: tlc211@gmail.com.
Judge William Adams shown beating his daughter with a belt on YouTube
By Rebecca Potter
Rebecca Potter profile in the Lovefraud Professional Resources Guide
As I saw the following video and commentary on CNN last night, I could not sleep. It appears that the sheriff in the town of Rockport, Texas has received countless calls of concern about Judge William Adams, who was shown beating his daughter with a belt on YouTube. Judge Adams is a family court judge. People were concerned about this judge being allowed to make decisions about the welfare of children. Judge Adams has three years left to make decisions about the welfare of families in Rockport, Texas.
Here’s the YouTube video: Judge William Adams beats daughter for using the Internet
Judge Adams feels that he was fairly disciplining his daughter for downloading music from the Internet. When I saw this video of his daughter, who has cerebral palsy, she was being beaten with a belt as she begged for him to stop. The daughter had set up her computer web camera as she felt the beating coming. Recent comments from the judge indicate that he sees nothing wrong with how he abused his child. News stories indicate he has left town, and officials are stating that he will not preside over cases that involve children.
Family court ignores the physical and emotion affect of abuse on children
Current research is able to document the effects of child abuse on the brain. As a professional, when I testify in court regarding the damage to children from trauma and abuse, I am not taken seriously. The judges feel that there is no physical damage, and they say permissive parenting by the protective parent is the cause of acting out behaviors of children. Meanwhile, current research shows that 60 percent of children who experience trauma and abuse will develop a substance use disorder.
Unfortunately, many of us have had to appear before judges like the Texas Judge Adams who feels justified to whip (beat and attack) his daughter with a belt, as she had been caught downloading music. These judges discount the scientific research and evidence of physical abuse causing permanent brain damage.
Hanley Center currently researching the effects of substance use and trauma on brain health
Brain scan technology is showing evidence of physical scars that occur in the brain after trauma and abuse. I attended a lecture by Dr. Barbara Krantz, Medical Director of the Hanley Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Brain imaging is being used in her facility. It is now possible to document what drugs and/or alcohol have been consumed based on the areas of the brain that show injury in brain scans. What also was shared was the difference in the hippocampus of an abused child and the hippocampus of a child who did not suffer abuse. This is the proof of permanent physical damage to the brain of a child who has been abused. Often these children medicate the emotional pain with substance use.
Practicing Mental Health without a license
Family judges are practicing mental health without a license. This practice by family court judges is dangerous to the health of our families, our nation and our financial well-being
- Many of these judges are unaware of current research.
- Judges do not allow children to testify or be a part of the court hearings that determine their well-being
- Children and protective parents are developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Additionally, when a judge has a tendency for personal pathology, they relate to the litigant who is also shares the personal pathology traits. These disordered individuals agree in the harsh punishment, punishment that does not fit the crime. This is the philosophy of control and dominance. These judges discriminate against the protective parent because they have not processed very personal feelings, and the protective parent is unbearable to their own personal philosophy. The judges are able to make decisions that affect the mental health of a child without the ability to understand their own personal opinions and processing of their own injuries. Readers will want to read articles on www.highconflictinstitute.com to understand the ignorance of judges who are confronted with the high conflict divorce and custody cases.
I have worked in the mental health field, and have had years of training to separate my own personal views and judgments from the individuals that I treat. This discernment and ability to separate your personal opinions and judgment comes from intensive personal training, supervision and counseling. Judges are exposed to mental health issues of families and children. They have not had this training and they are unable to provide a competent decision in these cases. In my opinion, I feel that Family Court judges are being asked to practice the profession of mental health without the proper training.
Judges use of defense mechanisms to insulate themselves against protective parents
When an individual does not have the training, supervision and experience to understand their use of defense mechanisms (your own dysfunction and personal defects), the individual blames and targets the individual who reminds you of your emotional pain. The use of these defense mechanisms allows an individual to insulate themselves from the pain, guilt, and shame.
Often times, the judges are so angered by the protective parent that to further insulate the judge, the protective parent is thrown in jail, or worse, the children are taken away and given to the parent with whom the judge can relate and identify. There is further emotional and financial pain placed upon the protective parent. The protective parent and children are damaged by the trauma of the court and develop complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
In my opinion, this is use of a defense mechanisms to project blame and repress the protective parent. If the children are removed and the protective parent is placed in jail, the judges do not have to face their own dysfunction. The saying, “out of sight, out of mind” is the attitude of a dysfunctional individual who wants to keep memories, fears, guilt and shame repressed.
Behavioral Research
Typically, all behavior research has demonstrated that punishment does not achieve a reduction in undesirable behavior. Punishment will actually increase the behavior. The individual who is punished will become more rebellious, fearful and sneaky. There are some severe situations in which punishment is used to extinguish a behavior. The use of punishment must be reviewed by other professionals to determine the effectiveness of the punishment and the safety of a plan that is put in place.
Overseeing the Family Court System
The children who are exposed to court and legal trauma are developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. They have been exposed to a war and punishment. The children are left in a state of hopeless despair, fear and victimhood. There is no committee of professionals who oversee the effect of the Family Court decisions on families and children.
I honor the courage and strength of the judge’s daughter for exposing his abuse to the nation. I feel inspired by this brave young girl’s courage and write about this very controversial topic to inspire our nation to band together to write letters and support each other as we attempt to change this ignorant archaic system used in our courts.
One person will not be able to change this system. It is time to band together and develop a plan to insist that the judges no longer have the only authority to make decisions for families. We must also insist that psychologists who depend on the court for fees are not allowed to diagnose a traumatized parent as a personality disordered parent. It takes a trauma specialist to diagnose this disorder and protective parents are often diagnosed with personality disorders. This has become a major epidemic in the American judicial system, an epidemic that has serious legal, health and financial consequences to our nation. We need to demand committees of independent professionals be involved in Family Court decisions.
Rhode Island has a process for filing complaints against judges. If Rhode Island has this, my guess is that other states have it as well.
http://www.courts.ri.gov/PublicResources/JudicialTenureandDiscipline/PDFs/DisciplineComplaintForm.pdf
While what they are looking for may not exactly fit our situations, there is nothing wrong with making our voices heard. If enough people file complaints, they may be moved to re-examine what they have in place and make changes.
I wouldn’t stop with sending a form into a board like this. I’d copy my local Representative and/or Senator and ask that they submit bills to create new state laws.
Write to your Attorney Generals and say what is on your mind. They do want your votes!
I heard that Karl Rove is in big trouble with the contributors to his Super Pac (an election fund for our non-US readers) because not only did Romney not get elected, but the Republicans lost seats both in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate.
Apparently, the idea was if you throw enough money at something, you were guaranteed a win. Once upon a time, that was probably true.
Nowadays, we’re all equal when it comes to voting. We are educated, have the Internet, cable TV, cell phones with cameras, and saying that something wasn’t that bad or didn’t happened does cut it anymore.
Certainly, we know from advertising that expensive ad campaigns simply pushing an idea at people won’t get them to buy the item.
What this election showed, if nothing else, is that people are intelligent and they will act.
Don’t forget that not that long ago, the courts, lawyers, and judges were an educated few who could read and write. Most people were illiterate or only had a few years of schooling. Most didn’t stand a chance against the elite with university educations and connections. We had to take their word with whatever they said. We didn’t have the Internet to vet statements or actions.
We also have never had the means to compare experiences. The unacceptable behavior of the judicial/legal system and its members went unabated because they pushed the idea that our situation was a first. Can’t change that. It’s never been done before.
That’s bull. It’s not a first. It’s the norm and we need to bring that to the public’s attention.
Today, we have the means to do that.
The balance of power has shifted, but I think most people don’t realize how much power they do truly have. I think certain people within the legal system and government realize that and they are scrambling to make sure that word doesn’t get out. It’s too late. The inevitable is on its way, but we can help make it sooner as opposed to much later.
Write letters to your newspapers, local Representatives and Senators, and send complaints into boards like the above.
The truly ambitious can start grassroots movements.
Get in touch with your local American Civil Liberties Union chapters or contact the national one.
Write up your story once and save it as a Word document. Then everytime you write to somebody, attach your story to your cover letter.
I would like to see Donna have form letters available on this site that readers can download, fill in, and send to whomever.
We don’t need to re-invent the wheel each time.
I do know that if nothing changes, then nothing changes.
We are not powerless in this situation. We simply need to make our voices heard loud, clear, and often. And if we can organize into one bigger, more effective voice, all the better.
And I know, from postings and reading, that there are lawyers, judges, and other professionals who see what is wrong and want change, too.
We can support them by speaking up from our side of the fence.
Rhode Island also has a disciplinary board for lawyers that is made up for 8 lawyers and 4 people from the general public.
http://www.courts.ri.gov/publicresources/disciplinaryboard/default.aspx
If your state doesn’t have something like this, maybe you can request one.
If it does have a board like this, find out who is on it. Write to them – or get on the board yourself!
Right now they are talking to the daughter of the judge on HLN about his beating of her. She feels “he needs help” and she is talking about the court ruling reinstating him after striking her at least 17 times.
People are not happy about this. I am glad it’s not just us outraged! AGAIN a CHILD has a voice and takes a risk TELLING and then they not only silenced her but she is saying she is at a loss for words literally. She is incredibly disgusted with “these people, Texas Supreme Court”. She states he has no business deciding on family court cases AND I SO AGREE. I WANT TO CRY!! They ARE IDIOTS.
G1S,
I requested to sit on the NEWLY opened seat of custodial parent on the Domestic Relations Committee and another mother who appeared at every single meeting on time as if she were a voting member was there. I was there the day they told everyone if you showed up and appeared you would be considered for the Adhoc and/or DRC but they wouldn’t touch her with a ten foot pole. She was in a Parent Alienation case with admitted domestic violence custody case which her parents spent over $250k on!
I am a squeaky wheel with a legitimate complaint that a State Prisoner had more rights than me, the parent who raised a child single handedly while the father was a constant criminal and gambler and druggie (with documented domestic violence and mental health issues with death threats). I was a law abiding, tax paying, business owner of 20+ years and homeowner with perfect credit and not so much as a traffic ticket (I am not perfect but I started out at 17 on my own and did my best!). It’s all been destroyed by family law! My credit my business. I even got 2 speeding tickets driving under duress to the court ordered reunification meetings. I had never made a late house payment until this. My case was investigated by the regulatory board of the Behavioral Health Board and an assistant state attorney and I was found to be credible and they revoked the psychologist who I complained about! I want someone to pay for this because this doesn’t even touch on what it did to this CHILD! The most innocent victim of this whole ugly nightmare.
The daughter is saying her dad, the Judge from Texas they think is a Psychopath!!! She used the word!! She also described very well how it is to be in an abusive situation like this and the dynamics which she said she was glad other people don’t understand as they haven’t been through it. She is very articulate.
They are all beside themselves in disgust!! They just showed everyones picture on the Supreme Court who reinstated him and a woman who stuck up for him who works with him in the courthouse saying “yeah he may have went a little overboard….. but…..” !!!
Then Jane on HLN invited them all to come on the show and said nobody responded to their invite who are on the bench.
Is the girl’s mother married to the judge? Does the girl live with him/them any more? I haven’t kept up with the status of the case for quite some time.
The old “Caesar’s wife should be above reproach” idiom is what I think should apply to judgeships and generals and politicians and CIA directors…they should have firm moral compasses and not be public scandals which way too many are.
But you know, It as always been this way to one extent or another so I don’t guess human nature is going to change much.
OxyD,
While I struggle with all the pornography and issues for kids on the internet like I can’t keep my daughter free from explicit sex exposure due to the internet, I am so glad we have the tool for Lovefraud and coming together. I have a friend in California who is blogging all she can to expose the court corruption and how it all works as she lost her daughters 12 years ago from an illegal change of custody to her abuser.
Our government is NOT broke! They are spending HUGE amounts of money on federal grants unchecked to non-profits and teaching/training etc. but there’s absolutely no transparency or accountability of how the funds are used, expectation of result for the multi billions in funds GIVEN and it’s to the wealthy! They aren’t filing proper returns and after a few years of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, they shut down and reopen under a new name with many boards of directors being retired judges, attorneys and faith based organizations! There should be NOBODY going hungry here! This should not be happening and she is blogging her butt off to expose all of it!
OxyD, You and I have discussed the privatization of the prisons and the faith based reentry programs. I want outside unbiased reporting on recidivism if it’s true they help decrease this.
I don’t want the federal tax money going to churches or faith based organizations! I believe they get tax free tithings and they are to set up their systems for the communities for that benefit and thus they are tax exempt!! If they STINK as a church, they shouldn’t be subsidized by the federal government to then go on to get free money to teach WHATEVER their belief is that nobody was willing to tithe for…. Why should we be paying for that? Successful churches didn’t NEED FEDERAL TAX MONEY! It’s ludicrous. I hope people start realizing this stuff.
The most blatant one that got me so mad was “marijuana growers ministry”!!! I am NOT KIDDING. This guy was the “minister” and that was his defense for a marijuana charge in my state and wouldn’t you know it, my psycho is employed by this MINISTER making $180k per year when he came out of prison and he’d never made $40k per year previously!! I want these psychos out of all of our pockets because from what I am seeing, at the top, is a fat and happy sociopath or psychopath laughing all the way to the bank………..
I saw much of this while searching for help for me and my daughter through domestic violence organizations, shelters, legislators and supposedly non-profit child advocates that just refer you to another number. They have no address and say it’s for safety reasons……Some are but it’s like 2 out of 10.
OxyD,
The judges daughter was explaining the dynamics of how her mother did in fact give her a whack for good measure as it usually made the father happy for the mom to get involved and it normally made him stop but this time he came back to hit her some more. She said she and her mom were really best friends but abuse in the family has strange dynamics for survival. I didn’t really hear if the mom is still married to him.
Earlyn, the dynamics of abuse is often very twisted….in my own family until I was over 50 I had no idea at all, and not until it got to the point that my life was in danger from my son and my own egg donor was assisting him did I truly realize just HOW TWISTED it is.
I participated in it too, both actively and passively…and looking back I think, “How could I have been so stoooopid?” There were bits and pieces that I “saw” but failed to put into practice, even while Ii was on the “other side of the clip board” advising others how to live an emotionally healthy life. Even after workiing in mental health I still didn’t truly “get it”—I had the credentials but I didn’t know what I thought I knew.
Being on the “wrong side” of the clip board didn’t even truly educate me, it is only by studying and focusing on my own self that I have made progress in my recovering, in my healing.
I’ve got a lot of positive qualities, but I lacked many others and insight into what I was living with was part of what I lacked.
I don’t claim to have all (or even most) of the answers now, in fact, the more I learn, the more I realize I need to learn more.
I do know though that I am no longer living in terror, I am better satisfied with myself and my life. I’ve learned to set better boundaries and I hope I keep on growing until the day I die. Life is a journey, not a destination. We need to enjoy the journey and smell the roses along the path. Appreciate the many blessings we have, starting with just having enough clean water to drink each day. Explore our faith and our selves. Come to peace with that faith and with our selves.