Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10181994 - M.R.1 f M.R. 1 & MR.2 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA DATE: October 18, 1994 MATTER OF RECORD ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ M.R. 1 The Board of Supervisors heard comments from Greg Willis, 3157 Manor Avenue, Walnut Creek, relative to the custody of his children. M.R.2 The Board of Supervisors heard comments from Tim Haley, 1551 Rosewood Court, Oakley, relative to his appeal in Superior Court Case # 940425-2 . THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY NO BOARD ACTION TAKEN cc: County Administrator October 18, 1994 Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County RECEIVE® 561 Pine St. Martinez, CA 94553 OCT 1 8 1°``_)4 Re: Case Number 91-12267 CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONTRA COSTA Co. Dear Supervisors, On May 16, Referee Josanna Berkow gave sole legal and sole physical custody of my children to their mother, my ex-wife. She did this despite the fact that she had been given testimony from twelve experts that their mother was inappropriate, physically abusive and/or that she had sexually abused and molested my children, but, that they were safe in my care. I was ordered to undergo two years of intensive psychotherapy and put on indefinite supervised visitation. These experts included four medical doctors, six therapists, one social worker and one CPS Child Welfare Worker. Referee Berkow appointed a psychologist-evaluator who was on probation, appointed a psychologist-special master who was unlicensed and appointed a psychologist-therapist who violated local court rules, lied to the court, showed an "appalling" lack of objectivity and violated professional ethics. She appointed a personal friend of Judge Swager, an attorney who was on probation, to represent my children. I complained to Judge Swager that Referee Berkow was inexperienced, biased, untrained and uneducated in child abuse matters, suppressed, withheld and ignored evidence, had ex-parte communications with her experts, abused her discretion, abused her power and denied my right to due process. Judge Swager informed me that her conduct was proper. In July, Referee Berkow, ruled on my request for a Fee Waiver for the Appeal of her May 16 decision and made it contingent on a payment of $500.00 to my children's attorney. My attorney advised me that this is improper and it is extortion. Before she was hired by the County, Josanna Berkow never practiced family law, she never litigated a case, she was not qualified as a family law specialist and her hiring was criticized by the County Bar Association. Judge Swager claims that she graduated "cum laude". Her college and law school say this is not true. I asked Judge Swager to prove it. He refused. I asked Referee Berkow to prove it. She refused. I subpoenaed her school records. County Counsel notified me that he will quash my subpoenas. 3157 Manor Avenue • Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Board of Supervisors Page 2 October 18, 1994 If Referee Berkow lied about her credentials to get her job, this violates the California Code of Judicial Conduct, the Rules of the California Bar Association and the law. She was untrained before and after she was hired and this violates the Standards of Judicial Administration. In response to my complaints, the Board of Medical Examiners is investigating two of the psychologists appointed by Referee Berkow and the State Bar is investigating the attorney appointed to represent my children. The Child Abuse Systems Review Committee is investigating the child abuse system in Contra Costa County and Josanna Berkow in particular. For almost three years, I have done everything I could do to work through the system to protect my children. No one in a position of authority has listened. The system has failed them. My children are not safe. Referee Berkow refuses to recuse herself from this matter. Today, I must ask the Board: Would yu please look into the question of Josanna Berkow? Did she, or did she not, lie to get her job as Referee? Why have the County Child Abuse Systems so utterly failed to protect my children? We have a right to know the truth. Very Truly Yours, .""'4�Jtid� Greg Vlillis c.c. Grand Jury of Contra Costa County Judicial Council of California Commission on Judicial Performance Superior Court of Contra Costa County Child Abuse Systems Review Committee Polly Kavanaugh Paula A. Lorentzen, Esq.