From my time spent as a corrections officer, I can indeed confirm that many, many, many family court judges are utter assholes. There's just no other way to put it.

I don't know if they get burnt out, cynical, or what. And don't get me wrong, there are some great ones out there too. But the ones that survive the daily meat grinder of family court end up being the closest things to saints on this earth OR they turn out to be cynical SOBs who take out their jadedness on the people that come before them.

And you know, it's a heck or a lot easier to be a cynic than it is to be truly compassionate.

I wouldn't say that the judge's attitude is prevalent everywhere. But in any given courtroom, the judge's mood/temper/attitude/biases are frankly all that matters. And they don't have anything to lose by saying exactly what they feel in their courtroom. Even if they are 'elected', when was the last time you really paid any attention to who was running for your local court judge/researched their records, ect? Probably the same as everyone else. (That is, if they are running opposed in the first place!)

However, it might be good for her to get a copy of the court record, and then show it to the media. (If she can get them to care). But that won't help her settlement. I'm wondering where her lawyer was/is in all this.
-Kitty, mama to Fiona, Thomas, and Dylan.