Blog
Carol Erskine
September 14, 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.
So many people are asking about the Massachusetts cell phone policy so here is my reply to an earlier post since it is difficult to respond to all the questions.
@TruecrimeRob @ThatSassySwede @BrianEntin The policy that allows jurors to have cell phones during deliberations makes absolutely no sense to me. It should be revisited since it was approved over 15 years ago.
If you drive less than hour from the state's Plymouth Superior Court to the federal court in Boston, it's a
Judge Sullivan’s order extending the confidentiality of Clancy seated and unseated jurors is well founded and demonstrates the court’s legitimate concerns regarding threats to the Clancy jurors.
Let me be unequivocal: Threats against jurors, judges, attorneys, court personnel,
The Clancy Holdout Juror’s Questionnaire: What Massachusetts Case Law Tells Us. I'll be talking about this later today with @BrianEntin. My analysis on "the justice file" examines four major Massachusetts cases that frame the issues. You can find it here. https://thejusticefile.com/2026/09/14/the-clancy-holdout-jurors-questionnaire-what-massachusetts-case-law-tells-us/
“It was pretty cool. It was a pretty cool feeling,” Red Sox pitcher Tolle said after throwing an immaculate inning, opening the game after a long rain delay. And it was "pretty cool" to be there to see it! Had an amazing day at Fenway Park.
