Judge Who Locked Up 3 Kids Amid Custody Dispute Faces Disciplinary Hearing
PONTIAC (WWJ/AP) - A suburban Detroit judge who sent three siblings to juvenile detention for refusing to meet with their estranged father faces a disciplinary hearing that could put her job in jeopardy.
The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission says the actions of Oakland County Judge Lisa Gorcyca have eroded the public's confidence in the judiciary. A hearing in front of a former judge starts Tuesday.
Gorcyca presided over a custody dispute involving the parents of three children. Last July, she found the siblings in contempt and sent them to juvenile detention for refusing to have lunch with their dad. After widespread publicity, the kids were released after two weeks.
Gorcyca is accused of misconduct and subsequently giving false explanations. In the formal ethics complaint, the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission said Gorcyca failed to respect the law and act in a patient, dignified and courteous manner. In addition, the commission accused the judge of making misrepresentations, or false statements in an earlier letter.
Gorcyca denies any wrongdoing. About 200 Detroit-area lawyers have signed a letter supporting Gorcyca. Prominent family attorney Henry Gornbein is among her supporters. He said Gorcyca had a very difficult case and the children needed some discipline.
"You know, it wasn't as if she was sending them off to be alone with their father in an unprotected, unsupervised situation. All she was saying was have lunch with your father, and they refused again and again and again," he said. "I think it's overkill."
WWJ Legal Analyst Charlie Langton said the outcome of the case against Gorcyca could have far-reaching implications.
"If the judge is going to be disciplined for the way she said certain things, I think all judges would have a real tough time," said Langton. "This is a very difficult case and these kids absolutely refused the judge's order. The issue is, what do you do with a bad kid? At some point in time, you have to get serious and I think the judge did get serious in this case -- and now she's going to pay the price for it."
Gorcyca removed herself from the custody case in December.
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