Judge Reprimanded Over Custody Case

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Posted: 12:16 PM Sep 8, 2007
Last Updated: 12:16 PM Sep 8, 2007

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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.

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Posted by: mixer1 Location: tenn on May 5, 2009 at 01:09 PM
All the people that have had bias rulings in front of this judge should file a complaint against her. There is power in a group and if she is left alone the children are the ones that suffer. We, the parents, have to protect them.

Posted by: Concerned Citizen Location: Macon County, TN on Mar 24, 2008 at 01:15 AM
She is dangerious. I have not had a personal case myself in her court. But I pitty anyone who does I have witnessed many cases thru her courtroom and she does not follow the law. It is just who gets to her first. or who knows what she goes by to make her judgements. She has no business acting as counselor for children. The comments I read posted on Feb 25,2008, is very true, I would have guessed the judge by the descriptipn you gave, it was a perfect description. I have a friend who is about to file for divorce and wants her for their judge because they know they are in the wrong and think they will have a better chance getting what they want with her since she does not go by the law.

Posted by: Victim Location: Wilson County, TN on Feb 25, 2008 at 11:55 PM
This does NOT surprise me. Judge Byrd frequently abuses her power, shows favoritism toward certain lawyers in her courtroom, and frequently issues unconstitutional rulings. When going through our divorce, she refused to hear testimony from my witnesses and made inappropriate comments about me to my attorney and the opposing attorney after the hearing was over. When I went through my divorce, my attorney was appalled at her rulings, yet there was nothing that could be done outside of appealing the case. Who has the excess time, extra cash and emotional energy to go through more of an ordeal?! It seems to me that judges are to be impartial and just in their rulings and should actually try to help people.

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