Why Judges Take Kids Away

Friday, October 3, 2008

sharon stone

Sharon Stone recently lost custody of her eight-year-old son Roan to her ex-husband Phil Bronstein. Since this made news, many people have been asking me what went wrong and why a judge would take away Stone's parental rights.

Giving a father sole custody of a child is a very rare situation. Sometimes if the parents live far apart from each other, the judge simply has to make a decision regarding who should keep the child. But if one parent cannot provide a structured, stable, secure and consistent home life, there could be a few things going on.

Sharon is known for having public meltdowns and making shocking statements. Blaming an earthquake, which killed 80,000 people, on karma is a statement that is so outrageous that it suggests instability.

The court interestingly stated that Sharon "did not involve herself to the extent she could have or should have in raising her son." The court also stated that Sharon subjected her son to a series of unnecessary and potentially damaging medical procedures, again suggesting a mental instability. The court's decision regarding custody and visitation can be changed at any time. Both parents can ask the court to reconsider. Time will tell what exactly it is that Sharon needs -- whether she is in need of mental heath assistance or improved parenting skills.

The opinions expressed in Jeanine's Journal belong solely to Jeanine Pirro, and do not reflect the opinions or beliefs of the series' producers, AND Syndicated Productions, Inc., its parents and successors, employees, officers, agents, directors, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates and assigns. Producers are not responsible for the accuracy of any information provided by Ms. Pirro. It is recommended that you consult with an attorney in your area.

Comments (2) | Post a comment now »

I don’t watch the TV show, and was actually googling something that related to dad’s getting custody of their kids.

I’m a single dad and believe Jeanine’s article to be dead-on. Even I was surprised to get custody of my son due to my thinking that the woman always got the children as a social norm. But the judge must have used the same (may I add, fair) criteria that they used in the Sharon Stone case. At the risk of sounding immodest; I am the responsible, steady job holding, providing, care giver, etc.. And I think my ex proved herself to be just about the opposite. Also, related to the article, my ex now has/has had mental health issues. Maybe Sharon has issues as well?

Anyway, I don’t think I will ever watch the Judge Jeanine show, but I did enjoy her insight into an area that is personal to me. Smart woman, keep it up, and good luck with the show.

… I just did some more googling because I didn‘t know anything about Jeanine till just now. I truly wish Jeanine the best in her own divorce and her future relationship with her children. I’ve been divorced for about 2 years and it’s finally getting better. Again, good luck and God bless.

By Bruce on December 29, 2008 7:23 PM

I am an "occasional" viewer of Judge Pirro's show. It is my opinion that, of all the "courtroom drama" programs aired these days, Ms. Pirro is head and shoulders above the pack. She consistently displays control, fairness, respect and a very deep knowledge and grasp of law, not just in a textbook fashion, but in a humanly empathetic way.

I look forward to the occasions when I can watch her and gain insight into the law from her perspective because it seems more balanced and real. Further, she is not prone to the courtroom antics that other T.V. Judges display to gain ratings, but seems to let the cases take their course and her rulings are always even-handed and fair.

By Len on December 19, 2008 1:17 PM