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Resident alleges misuse of protection orders, asks Franklin County for audit; commissioners point to judicial oversight process
Summary
Marcy Torres told commissioners she and others have documented more than 230 cases where protection orders were allegedly used improperly to remove children and urged an audit; commissioners said they lack authority to investigate judges and suggested using established judicial complaint channels while offering to meet with the commenter.
During the public-comment period on March 18, Marcy Torres, who identified herself as the owner of Gutter Girl, urged Franklin County commissioners to investigate what she described as systemic misuse of protection orders in family court. Torres alleged that Judge Norma Rodriguez and a relative, Angie Pacheco, failed to disclose outside relationships and that protections were used to take children from safe parents. She said her group has documented "over 230 cases" and that some families have been harmed; she asked the commissioners to order an audit.
"We're documenting what attorneys are doing over these cases and the conflicts of interest," Torres said during her three-minute public-comment time. "I'm here on behalf of those parents. I'm asking that an audit of all of our cases along with Bronson Brown are done because this is very unfair." She also referenced a $50 million lawsuit tied to an Amber Rodriguez case and said family-court procedures were "being weaponized."
Commissioners and staff responded that the board has limited authority over the judicial branch. County legal counsel and commissioners noted that complaints about judges are handled by a judicial oversight body rather than the county legislative body. "We're not the regulatory authority for judges," one county official said, explaining there are statutory limits on the county's ability to obtain judicial records and that a separate mechanism exists to investigate judicial conduct.
Commissioner Didier and others suggested meeting with the commenter after the meeting to gather more information and determine what avenues of redress are available. Commissioners also observed that the board does have control over county funding and could consider funding-related inquiries if warranted, but emphasized that formal judicial complaints must go through the proper oversight channels.
The board did not take formal action on the allegation; commissioners offered to follow up with the speaker to learn more about the documented cases and to advise on appropriate complaint pathways.
