The Fatherhood Coalition message on retiring Judge Christina Harms
The Fatherhood Coalition notes with great relief the early retirement of Judge Christina Harms from
Norfolk County Probate and Family Court. She has long been singled out by members of the Coalition for
special observation. We perceived her on-the-bench demeanor to be often whimsical, abusive, and ungrounded
in legal guidelines or principle.
While it is apparent that her sudden early retirement was precipitated by one of the whimsical decisions
for which she is known to us, we will never know due to the shroud of secrecy by which the Commission on
Judicial conduct operates. We can only surmise that her retirement was the result of a negotiated resolution
with the CJC to prevent a public proceeding before a court of law.
We mark this retirement with optimism that this may be a pivotal event in Norfolk County Probate and Family court
to set the court on a course in line with established law and decorum requiring respect to all those who find
themselves seeking justice in this forum. We suggest that one avenue towards this course correction would be for our legislature to cause an independant review of the Probate and Family Court, particularly in regards to outcomes of child custody matters, and in the issuance, vacating, and expunging of restraining orders.