Judge Reprimanded Over Custody Case

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Posted: 12:16 PM Sep 8, 2007 Judge Reprimanded Over Custody Case A Middle Tennessee judge has been publicly reprimanded for her actions during a child custody case.

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LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) -- A Middle Tennessee judge has been publicly reprimanded for her actions during a child custody case.

The Tennessee Court of the Judiciary released a letter of reprimand yesterday to 15th Circuit Court Judge Clara W. Byrd in Wilson County.

The letter says that Byrd failed to follow a Court of Appeals ruling to restore custody to a mother, requiring the woman to pay additional attorney's fees to go back to the court to implement the order.

In the August 2005 case, Byrd granted custody to the child's father, despite findings of abuse from the Department of Children's Service and a police investigation.

The state Court of Appeals reversed her ruling August 2006 and ordered the judge to restore custody to the mother.

But Byrd left the boy in his father's care and then held a hearing in September 2006.

Latest Comments

Posted by: misty jenkins Location: lebanon,tn on Jan 28, 2010 at 07:17 PM

This judge is very unfair and no she doesnt deserve the title judge she is a disgrace. i went before her in 2009 for final divorce and child custody. she ruled completely without my childrens best welfare in interest i had 2 get on my feet after leaving a bad situation with my ex husband and of course i took my children out of that but it got held against me and i work 2nd shift but i was doing what i could to care for my girls and my ex husband totally manipulated the situation and she didnt even listen to my side!! my girls i want her 2 know since being in his custody are 4 out of 5 days left with the babysitter til 10 or 11 at nite tehy are 10 and 8 and have already been caught smoking cigarettes while in his care and my youngest has had her arm broken. Clara Byrd is not fit to be a custody judge by no means. i am a fit mother and she just took my children away from me for no reason!!!

Posted by: robert on Nov 16, 2009 at 10:47 PM

ive had an ongoing case with her for 8 years i have a 8 yr old daughter that i have never seen .she want let me see her.i have spent 15000 over the past 8 yrs for lawyers and still havent seen my daughter.i think it is unbeleivable that she gets away with what she gets away with .i havent even signed the birth certificate.everytime i say something she acts like she dont hear me .i think something needs to be done but iam sure it want i live in a town that alot of money gets pushed under alot of tables and in alot of pockets.this county needs a positive change and i dont ever see that happening until someone stands up to people like her.

Posted by: Mr B Location: lebanon on Nov 6, 2009 at 11:26 AM

I just left the court house.My ex-wife filed for divorce after she kicked me out six years ago. I just settled in with a new family, after she found out she filed for divorce asking for 100.00 per week alimony and she made sure it went before Byrd. Bryd never allowed me to speak and threatened me that if I said one word it would be 500.00 per week.I will appeal and if you notice I did not say judge before her name because she is a disgrace to our judicial system.

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