Part One - Rough Day For Judge Baker

[@justanothersmith6012]

I can’t stand caseworkers who use the “placement” to do their job unless the “placement” wants it that way. I had a special needs foster child with an illness so rare , some of his medications were coming from a research department at NIH. Less than 350 people in the US & Canada had the condition at that time. His g-tube was pulled out for months and he hadn’t had meds in over 6 months. He weighed 12lbs at 2yrs old and coded twice between the county hospital emergency department and the Children’s Hospital two blocks away. I had experience with medically fragile infants and agreed to take him. An aunt in her 80’s was being considered for placement, eventually , even though she lived on the same piece of property this child lived on, in mobile homes. Mom and the aunt didn’t get normal visitation at the office. They got to visit at all the FREAKIN’ medical appointments he had at the Children’s Hospital . The caseworker never came so I had to report on the visits if I had concerns . Uhm, yes, there were constant concerns. The aunt needed her own caregiver. Mom didn’t participate in the actual appointments. She clearly expected others to deal with the actual medical information . She was pleasant to be around , but was immature. About six months in , the family quit coming. They were no shows, no contact for 5 months, then just popped up at a physical therapy appointment that was at the same time every week , so they knew we would likely be there. This disease left calcium crystals in the eyes and other organs , eventually leading to kidney damage requiring an organ transplant . At the one year court hearing the caseworker was going to paint a rosey picture for the judge. I had an attorney help me fill out an affidavit (?) for the hearing and filed it with the court . The CPS attorney found me in the courthouse waiting room because he thought I had to be exaggerating about the illness being fatal if medical care was not provided and only got more dire with age due to damage , even with the experimental medications. He had not known that there had been 96 medical appointments and one surgery in 11 months. He didn’t know about the 17 medications a day , required. I showed him the documentation with the caseworker and supervisor sitting right there , nodding yes to everything. The caseworker was never at a single “visit” . The CPS attorney requested an extension , using another excuse that had nothing to do with the real reason he needed more time for that hearing . This one broke me. After 14 years I took a two year break . That was a long time ago but nothing has changed. The good caseworkers are either shut down by administrators or quit because they aren’t given what they need to do the job the right way.

[@rhondawoodard7203]

God Bless you and that baby and all foster parents like you! It has taken a toll on you I am sure but here you are still fighting for these lost babies. I want to say Thank You 🙏

[@Just_Boo]

You are absolutely incredible! If the world was full of people like you, the world would be great. Bless you for loving and taking care of that sweet baby. I truly hope he's okay and survived everything.❤

[@North_West1]

Last case, even if child’s outcry can not be proven beyond reasonable doubt (criminal conviction), protecting the child should be paramount. Mom hasn’t been willing to follow no contact with alleged abuser rules during visits. Ridiculous that alleged abuser’s lawyer made argument that “he didn’t abuse 1 of the daughters”. That doesn’t disprove an outcry from step-daughter.

[@jsthecat]

Mr Lazaro's case make me feel dirty and listening to his lawyer make me feel sick. I just can't contemplate allowing contact with an alleged SAer. 😢

[@cortneynichols8537]

And then talked about how he had a great relationship, even with the stepdaughter... and asking for visits?!?

[@christawebbcarver6359]

Good job Monica! So very proud of her for accomplishing so much, and showing how hungry she is to get her baby back. Obviously the case workers are dropping the ball left and right. If Mom sends the documentation to a caseworker and the caseworker doesn't share it or inputted and nobody gets back to mom that they need these documents and don't return calls, then wait for court and say all we need these documentations before we can let her visit her, etc... so place the blame where it needs to be squarely on the case workers and not on Mom.

[@juliettemarques9501]

🤬I feel ESPECIALLY bad for the little girl in the last case. When choosing a child’s name, most people look through websites, or flip through one of those ~The Big Book of Baby Names~. This mom read an urban legend story (that started as a joke chain mail in the 90s & is still around) and actually thought *“Yes! Naming my baby girl A-b-c-d-e is a great idea!!”* Everyone on the Zoom is correctly pronouncing it (Ab-si-dee), except lawyer for stepdad whose accused of harming her. He straight up calls her A-B-C-D-E ( 1:17:23 ). Listening to interviews with adults who were in the system as kids, you always hear “All I wanted was to be a normal kid & blend in”. Being a child in an abusive home & dealing with the trauma that comes with that + removal is difficult enough. Imagine your name’s Abcde on top of that & the constant remarks & questions you would get from pretty much anywhere you have to give your name… school, appointments, even putting in an order for food. Nevermind jokes & mocking from kids. I have the common name Juliette & - I - rarely go a day without “Where’s Romeo?” Or “Don’t drink any potions/get hold of knives!”, so I know little Abcde has it rough-rough. :(

[@OrphanAnnie681]

It is shameful that a parent thinks so little of a child they would give them a name that can't help but result in insults, chiding or mocking. But, if the parent starts out thinking their baby is a mere toy and not a person, no wonder they give them a thoughtless, bizarre name. That says everything about the parent's maturity level. Btw, Juliette is a beautiful, regal name. I always think of a woman of substance and patience when I hear that name. 🙂

[@wowyathink5982]

They really spell her name “Abcde”? Good Lord!

[@HankyPankyMom]

I went back and re-listened to Mrs Campos’ testimony regarding the phone call accusation. She said the child told the aunt (who apparently is placement) and the aunt relayed that info to the counselor etc. The judge assumes that if it’s not true, that one of the kids lied for some reason. If the call never happened, maybe the aunt lied.

[@OrphanAnnie681]

Good catch. I noticed that too. But, I'm not surprised by this judge's inadequacies. She is not very astute.

[@luzwilson4020]

No visitation at all. Absolutely not I have worked with children who have made accusations. 99% always proven. Even if recant due to family stress

[@lizaaltizer7775]

And this is why you always ask them to CC you in the email if someone is sending documents on your behalf. That way you can easily access the sent mail with the other addresses listed on them.

[@mariawiswell2506]

As a parent of a child who went back and forth like michaela/chandler, a good idea would be for the focus to be on them overall and not forcing black and white thinking onto a kid thats having a hard time. No one seems to be saying what the reason the child is giving for not wanting to talk to the parents.

[@deusvult2302]

When I see the amount of resources it takes to get children "away" from bum parents I want to explode. Whilst some people who would make great parents are not able to have children it seems more and more that those who work sporadically to not, who use drugs (alcohol included), who commit crimes have no problem multiplying but not beeing able to take adaquate care of the kids they have already. It's sad. As a faithful Christian, I stand with the Bible and am 100% pro life. To see the resources needed once officials have to get involved to safekeep children makes it ever so clear that we need new laws all bum parents, even whilst incarcerated are forced into contributing to pay for their kids being out of their care because if their actions.

[@Delulutrain]

I’m going to keep saying, I love judge Baker 😂 always choices what’s best for child and parent, explains, set clear expectations and never have I seen her favor one side over another. It’s refreshing to see ✨

[@Delulutrain]

Your commentary is spot on yet again @OnTropolis - thank you for all your hard work! I can’t seem to figure out how to be a member, is it me? Lol. I can’t seem to figure it out 🫠

[@OnTropolis]

There's a button next to the subscribe button, or if not you should be able to use this link (it's also in the description of my videos) www.youtube.co/channel/UCtSQ4becM8YF_bgP4ihA0rQ/join Thanks so much for your support

[@Delulutrain]

@@OnTropolis thank you! I hadn’t noticed the links in videos 🤦🏼‍♀️ the one you posted did, thank you!

[@rhondawoodard7203]

I see a lot more of this kind of issue with Chandler with the way schools now exclude parents from child’s education

[@gonebananas777]

Two days in a row I've seen court videos from Amarillo, TX on this channel. I live in Amarillo, so that's always cool.

[@OnTropolis]

Judge Graham and judge Baker have many cases out of Amarillo. I'm curious if it crosses two counties because I think it's the Potter counter docket in Baker and I'm unsure which it is when it's judge Graham I think it's Randall?

[@lauradavis4848]

@OnTropolis both Judge Graham and Judge Baker are housed in the Amarillo court house. Some areas of TX have a couple of associate judges who are each assigned a number of small counties in the area. Out in west TX, ie Amarillo, Judge Graham has 11 counties he's hearing cases for. His area is Northern Panhandle, northish of Amarillo. Judge Baker, has 10 counties, one of hers being Potter which is the county that Amarillo is in. That's why both of them always have parents incarcerated at Potter County. The other counties are so small, they don't have County jails, so they are all taken to Potter County in Amarillo. I looked at Judge Bakers docket, and some of the counties don't even have a docket because there aren't any cases happening there. Potter county of course is the biggest county she oversees, so it has the largest docket. Deaf Smith County for Graham has 18,500 population and is one of the biggest counties he's in charge of.

[@Mrbetvr]

Just cuz Sierra took everything doesn't mean she's Learned anything. Sexual abuse she's trying to force the kids to talk to their abuser

[@cortneynichols8537]

Wow Atty Sherrod is RUDE!! "I assume people can follow it". Well... ur in family court and should refer to relationship with child NOT ur client. He is sickening

[@North_West1]

Go grandma. ♥️

[@rachel8622]

51:00 this case is the mom who didn’t pick up her kids when CPS tried to return a year ago. She said she was getting CDL testing.

[@rachel8622]

I think this is the same mom who threatens her attorney and others

[@gonebananas777]

49:44 why does this CHILD have so much control over the parents and the court? They didn't say if there was a reason the parents don't have their child atm, but based on everything they did say, I think it's ridiculous how much control the kid has over everyone in this case.

[@jsthecat]

This child is old enough to have agency obviously there are some unusual circumstances in this case, but it's nice to see everone is considering the child's wishes, giving them voice and agency.

[@lostineggsaisle]

I want to know why he's not with his parents too. Obviously, there are issues going on with this child. The child may be old enough to make the decision as to whether they want to see their parents or not, but I'm wondering where the decision to not see them is coming from. It seems like they are trying their best to get him to talk to his parents like they are decent people/parents. Is this a situation that the child created himself?

[@luzwilson4020]

If any accusation of child molesto on is made child should absolutely be allowed near accused. Until fully investigated

[@PrissyTxTomboy]

San Antonio is in Bexar County, it's not pronounced "BEX-R", it's sounds just like "bare" or "bear". No self-respecting Texan over the age of 20 should get that wrong. 🤣

[@cherveny]

grew up on Ohio, moved ro san antonio. learned this quickly:)

[@PrissyTxTomboy]

@@cherveny I was born in IL but we moved to S.A. before my 2nd b-day. It's where I grew up & lived most of my adult life. Still closest city to me (I'm in Bandera).

[@melodyalleyn9989]

Ha ha I was thinking the same

[@lizaaltizer7775]

I lived in Dallas. I’ve always thought it was bex are. 😂 Of course I was kind of isolated when I lived there. I was in highland park and didn’t go outside the neighborhood much. I’m glad you said that so I don’t sound like an idiot next time I’m out there. 😂 My brother is in El Paso now so I’m guessing it might.

[@PrissyTxTomboy]

@@lizaaltizer7775 If I lived in Highland Park I would feel no need to leave my neighborhood! lol

[@davidrose4257]

Monica knows more than her lawyer

[@beccadreams4992]

You wrote that you think the courts(you wrote criminal) have failed the child. I see a worker who was being texted during the court (or it seemed) by the Aunt. If you see the Aunts face when they speak about the Grandmother getting visits again that's ALL telling. That woman is (probably thinking she's doing a good thing) absolutely interfering with custody& is likely saying things against the girls father/step. The Mom seems determined to get the Grandmother back involved!

[@dpofahl]

35:32 omg the poor court reporter. I really hope mom is as on top of things as she says. I get a weird vibe from the attitude she has

[@kerryadams9100]

My opinion of a child wanting to be known as a different name or different sex would probably set off some people, so I will keep it to myself. After a child turns 18 they can be who ever they want to be. On the last case, IMO the dad did something terrible to the girls, but after 2 1/2 years and no indictment it makes you wonder why it hasn't gone forward. I hope the kids heal.

[@lostineggsaisle]

I think I agree with you, lol.

[@Lvnshyrn07]

I honestly love when"clean and sober" peeps argue they are good to go at 90days sobriety. They say the 1-2 yrs after are the worse. That's when you don't get "recognized" for your sobriety. You get to push it on, and FINISH a 12 step program.....

[@OrphanAnnie681]

Since when does a 12 yr old get to decide she doesn't want to speak to her parents so she doesn't have too! WTG, ruining another kid/family CPS! 😡

[@OnTropolis]

The kid is in a group home, was in a restrictive placement.. clearly there are mental health issues. You don't force a person who already has no control over their situation to do something they don't feel equipped to handle. That gets you literally nowhere.

[@OrphanAnnie681]

@@OnTropolis you may have a point.

[@jefflarsen2713]

I missed how old the child Chandle/Makalia was???? Anyone? I'm curious.

[@lostineggsaisle]

I want to know why he got removed from his parents.

[@snoox27]

Rosa is awesome

[@Finallyretired2022]

Why is no one being on the kids side ? Ask ea. child if want to talk or see dad ? Please check moms phone history about calls to dad. The fact that she keeps in touch with dad is terrible. Don’t let dad speak to his girl until she is cleared that no episodes. Get the therapists to agree. Disappointed Judge. Isn’t talking about talking to therapists. Case workers get with therapists quickly to tell judge what they say.

[@HankyPankyMom]

Agreed. In these complex cases where therapy is such an integral component of potential reunification, the judge needs to hear directly from the therapists to ensure she is receiving accurate and complete information.

[@annelynch9217]

So we’re just gonna ignore multiple personality disorder ? The child is just as comfortable being Chandler as she is being Michaela? That’s not body dysmorphia, that’s multiple personality disorder.

[@OnTropolis]

Or they're just tired of correcting people because nobody is respecting what they ask for anyway

[@OrphanAnnie681]

I agree no on who has alleged sexual abuse should have to ever communicate with the person they claim has abused them whether there's a conviction or not. However, nowhere in the video has it been made clear who the accusers are? Are the accusers the alleged victims, or some third party person like the aunt, or the CPS lawyer who may have misinterpreted something? It sounds to me like the CPS worker, the CPS lawyer and the judge are relying on hearsay rather than first hand testimony. A disinterested therapist should interview the children outside the presence of others who may have sway over the children's responses to find out what really happened. Also, it's my observation from all the hearings I've seen in this video, the CPS people are not communicating truthfully, not forwarding pertinent information and maybe lying about it, and seem to be imparting inaccurate information to the court. They are supposed to be objective and impartial but I get the feeling sometimes they are more interested in keeping children in "placements" rather than putting families back together. Btw, Ontropolis, the lawyer obviously does understand about sexual trauma, but that has nothing to do with his role in this situation at this time. His job is to vigorously defend his client. It would be out of place for him to address the issue of sexual abuse before any charges have been filed. By reaching out to the court to suggest his client be allowed controlled communication with his children, he is setting up an argument against indictment should a criminal case go forward. Also, I'm quite sure he understands children are capable of manipulating adults to get what they want or be manipulated by adults with an agenda. People shouldn't have their lives shredded based on "somebody said". That's why our system requires due process. It has to play out a certain way so hopefully everybody's rights are protected.

[@lindacurtis1872]

CPS Jennifer Campos tell the WHOLE truth stop lying or omitting stuff!!!

[@magi267]

5 year driving ban is huge. Was someone killed or was there multiple cases of drunk driving.

[@lauradavis4848]

It wasn't a 5 yr driving ban. It was a 5 yr ban with being a placement with St Francis. Until the case is over 5 yrs old they are saying they can't approve home study. He wasn't even driving apparently. Was blocking the road and was intoxicated. So drunk standing in roadway

[@Mrbetvr]

Mom isn't doing her work on Gibson.

[@Finallyretired2022]

Is the parental breakdown because they don’t or can’t accept Chandler/ she ? Does the counseling promote the he/she issue ?

[@lizsaitta3037]

Father's lawyer is a jackass!! Father lost his rights when the girls reported his actions. Plus, the lawyer doesn't get it. The bond says no contact, therefore the father's criminal lawyer needs to work it out. The mom continues to ignore the rules!! Sometimes the judge is too "politically correct " and acts like a cat on a hot roof. Tell these parents to grow up and take responsibility for what they allowed to happen. CPS didn't randomly wander into their home and took the kids. 😊

[@peggyrogers3067]

Todd alley is always on his phone.

[@Mrbetvr]

On Velasquez she went on her own she knew she was Clean. So nope.

[@OnTropolis]

I don't know what you are referring to, nope what?

[@magi267]

Why is Amy Taylor there? I seen her buy never heard her.

[@OnTropolis]

She's the court reporter

[@magi267]

Maybe the name could be "Tayla".

[@kimlerner389]

Jeez mom, SLOW DOWN

[@lostineggsaisle]

She's excited 😊

[@Mrbetvr]

Sierra is a liar

[@MrsBees]

Mom acts like 88 days verses 100 days is some huge difference. She still has had a year to do her services and she still has lots to do.

[@SydneyBooksMusic]

It’s is huge for an addict so while I don’t have personal experience, I do completely understand. At some point months become years. But early on, you better believe she earned those 12 extra days with massive hard work and probably a good bit of sickness (depending on the drug anyway). Credit where it’s due :)

[@lostineggsaisle]

​@@SydneyBooksMusic absolutely. So many people without experience don't even try to understand.

[@rachel8622]

If you have clawed your way out of addiction, you deserve credit for every day. And if your cps worker gets that wrong, what else don’t they bother to know

[@MrsBees]

@@lostineggsaisle I completely understand more than you could know. But unless the days are used to point out a specific date, there isn't much difference between 88 and 100 days. Yes it's nearly 2 weeks and that's wonderful for her. However in the grand scheme of things that 12 days matters to her, not her case.