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Judge Charlene Jackson has a history of violating parents rights

An investigation consisting of interviews with parents, lawyers, and a review of legal documents reveal Judge Charlene D. Jackson has established a record of violating parents' rights during her short time on the bench.  

On October 14, 2022, Charlene D. Jackson was appointed to serve as a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge by former Governor Doug Ducey. Two years later, litigants have had enough of being abused, tormented, traumatized, and retaliated against by Jackson.  

Jacksons' controversial tenure reportedly devastated families, infuriated attorneys and calls the reputation of many into question including the Family Court Presiding Judge Ronda Fisk, Superior Court Presiding Judge Joseph Welty, the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct and the Arizona Judiciary as a whole.  

Parents claimed their children were taken away from them before they even had an opportunity to address Jackson's court or present evidence to answer allegations being made against them. She has a track record of violating parents' rights to due process when she precludes parents from the opportunity to be heard.  

Jackson improperly failed to disqualify herself from cases where she had a demonstrated bias or personal relationship with a party involved in the case.  

Parents describe a courtroom ruled by intimidation where they aren't given the chance to be heard. Her unpredictability and failure follow court rules has resulted in many attorneys refusing to accept new cases assigned to Judge Jackson. 

In several cases, Jackson made unconstitutional decisions to issue warrants for parents and children without any evidentiary foundation and subsequently refused to quash warrants when the validity of the underlying affidavits were challenged.  

When parents filed motions for relief, appealed rulings, or submitted complaints outlining the misconduct or unconstitutional acts committed by Jackson, they were retaliated against in the form of losing custody of their children, arrest, orders to pay opposing parties attorney's fees, and even financial sanctions imposed on self-represented parties. Unnecessary and exorbitant legal fees are bankrupting many of the litigants forced to battle their cases with Jackson.  

'ROGUE, UNCONTROLLABLE AND OFF THE RAILS'

Maricopa County Parents are pushing back against a judge who they say acts more like a tyrant than a fair-minded judicial officer and are petitioning Arizona Supreme Court Justices to have her removed from the bench immediately.  

Interviews with parents who sought anonymity "for fear of retaliation from Jackson" and a review of legal documents show a record of violating parents' rights during her short time on the bench. 

Our investigation found that decisions made by Jackson faced more appeals and special actions with more rulings fully or partially overturned on appeal than fellow family court judges.  

Attorneys representing litigants in Jacksons' court have described her as "rogue," "uncontrollable," and "off the rails." 

SOCIAL MEDIA BRINGS ACTION 

Social media posts about Jackson opened the proverbial floodgates, prompting parents who faced similar situations in Jackson's courtroom to find one another and share their stories. Still, the fear of retaliation left many of those parents unwilling to speak out publicly.  

In early October, Jackson was served with notice of Legislative review. In the weeks since - emboldened by a sense of security against retribution - parents and supporters started speaking out publicly about their experience of being victimized by Jackson.  

Jackson immediately recused herself from at least one case without stating a reason for her recusal on the record.  

In other cases, Jackson is still issuing unconstitutional rulings, completely disregarding the integrity of the judiciary as she's under investigation. 

THE FAMILIES SPEAK 

The title of the petition on Change.org bluntly explains its intention to "investigate or remove Judge Charlene Jackson for alleged negligence and misconduct." 

It alleges that "Judge Jackson has repeatedly chosen to position children in an environment of sexual and physical abuse" and "Judge Charlene Jackson has demonstrated a dangerous pattern of granting full custody to sexual abusers, blatantly stating 'personal motives' while usurping safe parents' rights to protect their children. She imposes no contact orders on these innocent parents, hindering their ability to monitor their children's well-being." 

Hundreds of families have been affected due to Jackson's unsupported decisions. Jackson has demonstrated a pattern of issuing rulings designed to punish protective parents while failing to consider the best interests of the children involved.  

In several cases Jackson enhanced conflict so radically that once amicable co-parenting relationships turned contentious. 

Parents are demanding accountability for Judge Charlene Jackson and unwilling to let up on Jackson or the Maricopa County Court system itself. 

There are lingering concerns about the long-term impact the situation may have on children. Several parents have reported their children are suffering from trauma inflicted by Jackson's poor decisions including children being subjected to physical, psychological and sexual abuse. Many children subjected to Jackson’s rulings developed anxiety, depression, panic disorders, and are exhibiting other trauma induced symptoms.  

Jackson has robbed parents of time with their children that can't be replaced. They also face financial, mental, physical, emotional, and societal consequences. Many parents had their reputations destroyed by Jackson irresponsibly writing known inaccuracies and falsities in her orders to embarrass them. Others have gone bankrupt trying to repair the damage Jackson caused to their cases and their lives.  

Society thinks if people get their children taken away, they must have done something wrong. In Jackson's court, that's not the case.  

Jackson has grifted from court to court escaping punishment and accountability for her offenses. The Arizona Supreme Court needs to stop Jackson from continuing her egregious abuse of power. 

This does not involve one or two isolated occurrences, but instead involves a pattern of misconduct and repeated exercise of extremely poor judgment that continued for two years, including after she was informed that complaints were filed with Supervisor Judges and the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct against her. She should be removed from office immediately to protect the integrity of the courts. 

A censure is not sufficient punishment considering Jackson's failure to take accountability, lack of remorse, and failure to change her pattern of misconduct or correct any of her errors. Jackson's misconduct is far too great for her to keep her job. This situation calls for immediate and extraordinary remedies.