Judge Orders Kids Jailed, Sends Them to Summer Camp After Outrage
More: Judge Releases ‘Jailed’ Kids, Sends Them to Summer Camp
Oakland County Family Court Judge Lisa Gorcyca lifted her contempt of court rulings Friday and ordered the release of three children at the center of a contentious child visitation case.
The decision means the kids won’t spent the summer in the county’s juvenile detention center where they have been housed for the past few weeks.
“The court agrees with the children’s guardian’s recommendation as to the best interests of the children,” Gorcyca said this afternoon. “The court finds that is in the children’s best interests to grant the father’s and the guardian ad litem’s motion to allow the children to attend summer camp. Children’s Village is to facilitate the transportation.”
The children did not attend the hearing. They’ll be going to a Jewish summer camp where programs typically run for two weeks. It’s unclear what will happen to them when it concludes.
“That’s up to the judge,” said Lisa Stern, an attorney for the mother, Maya Eibschitz-Tsimhoni.
Gorcyca’s decision came during a court hearing this afternoon called to review the case of three siblings who refused the judge’s order to meet with their estranged father.
The case has drawn international attention and Gorcyca this afternoon blasted the news media coverage, insisting she has the children’s best interests at heart.
The judge noted the kids are not housed with criminal offenders in the juvenile detention facility, but instead, in a short-term housing facility known as Mandy’s Place on the campus of Children’s Village.
Gorcyca acknowledged that their placement there was “not ideal” but said when she sent them there, all other alternatives had been exhausted.
Brittany Kalso of Oakland County Children’s Village told the court the children, two boys and a girl, are doing very well in custody, smiling and interacting with others.
“They seem to be making progress on a daily measure,” Kalso said, adding they had been enjoying barbecues, nature hikes and a visit from a K-9 therapist.
The children’s parents, Maya Eibschitz-Tsimhoni and Omer Tsimhoni, divorced five years ago and have been battling in court ever since over parenting time. On Wednesday, lawyers asked Gorcyca to reconsider the decision to lock up the children.
On June 24, Gorcyca ordered the children to be held at Children’s Village after they refused her order to meet with their father.
Today, Gorcyca defended that decision.
“While this court’s remedy in this particular situation may seem drastic and offensive, so too, is the notion … that the only way to maintain a stable and loving connection with the mother is to vilify and reject the father,” Gorcyca said.
Also: Juvie Center No “Mother Goose Place”
This is the most batshit custody ruling that I have ever heard of. OK we get that the father and mother hate each other’s guts, that happens. But to jail the kids? If they are not already fucked up, THIS WILL FUCK THEM UP.
The judge should be jailed.
I live in Oakland County, will be voting for whoever is running against Gorcyca.
Here is a petition to remove Judge Gorcyca from the bench