Op-Eds
Carol Erskine
May 25, 2026
The Justice File is a platform for truth, accountability, and reform—focused on how the law affects vulnerable children. Founded by former Massachusetts Juvenile Court Judge Carol Erskine, a Top Ten Massachusetts lawyer and author of A Cruel Injustice, the site features analysis, trial commentary, and investigative reporting on child welfare, constitutional rights, and domestic violence. Drawing on 21 years on the bench, Judge Erskine exposes systemic failures and calls for justice through articles, media appearances, and legal commentary.
Sweet Harmony Montgomery should still be alive. Instead, her tragic death has left her half-brother Jamison—now adopted by two loving dads—grieving the sister he adored. Unaware of the public outrage surrounding her case, Jamison simply says, “I wish she wouldn’t have died.” When a Massachusetts court gave custody of Harmony to her violent father in New Hampshire, her fate was sealed. Even in death, officials and lawyers have worked to silence her story to protect their own failures.
Judge Sullivan currently presiding over the Clancy trial was overturned today in a sharp rebuke by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in a case very similar to the Clancy case. The Court found that the "judge did not weigh the probative value of the evidence against the
When an adult is in a mental health crisis, a safety plan for children must be in place including removing them from the home to protect them if they are at risk. A ZOOM meeting is not safety plan. I’ll keep asking this as I have for months, “Where was the safety plan for the
As Kevin Redington carefully pulled out bottles of medication prescribed to Lindsy Clancy, I couldn’t help thinking it was about time the truth about “polypharmacy” is finally coming out. You have to see it up close to truly understand that these drugs with dangerous side effects
A lens on the broken Massachusetts mental health system. Sorry to be cynical but I fought it one case at a time on the bench for 20 years. Lindsay Clancy deserved better. Patrick Clancy deserved better. Most importantly, three beautiful, vibrant children deserved better.
