• Protecting Children
  • Trials and Court Cases
  • In the Media
  • Protecting Children
  • Trials and Court Cases
  • In the Media
  • Protecting Children
  • Trials and Court Cases
  • In The Media
  • TJF Blog
  • Protecting Children
  • Trials and Court Cases
  • In The Media
  • TJF Blog
TJF BLOG
About the author

Judge Carol Erskine

a former justice from Massachusetts

Juvenile Court

Carol Erskine is a lifelong child advocate both as a lawyer and as a Massachusetts Juvenile Court judge for twenty-one years. Prior to being appointed to the bench, she was named one of Massachusetts Top Ten Lawyers by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. As First Justice in her county, she presided over thousands of cases involving criminal matters, runaways, sexually exploited children, mental health issues, as well as child abuse and neglect cases filed by the state.

Teaching

Judge Erskine is a college adjunct faculty member teaching Constitutional Law. Prior to law school, she was a tenured professor at a community college. She has been a sought after speaker at community events and was a frequent speaker at statewide judge’s conferences. She is an instructor for the Massachusetts Municipal Police Institute for training programs in juvenile law and advanced domestic violence law for law enforcement officers statewide.

Publications and Appearances

Judge Erskine has written and published a children’s book and several op-ed columns on children’s issues. She is the author of “A Cruel Injustice- How Massachusetts Put Four-Year-Old Harmony in the Hands of a Monster,” from which she donates all profit to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. She has appeared on local and national news programs including Boston 25, Court TV, Greater Boston, podcasts, and most recently can be seen in the Hearst Media Very Local documentary “Lost Innocence” regarding the failures that led to Harmony Montgomery’s tragic death. Judge Erskine continues to advocate for changes in child welfare laws that fail to prioritize the best of interest of children.

Recent Content by Judge Erskine

Exposés
Carol Erskine

Will Federal Authorities Get Justice for Harmony?

Carol Erskine June 5, 2025
Exposés
Carol Erskine

The Call for a Federal Probe

Carol Erskine June 4, 2025
Exposés
Carol Erskine

Making The Case for a Federal Investigation

Carol Erskine June 2, 2025
Blog
Carol Erskine

Justice For Harmony: What’s Coming Soon?

Carol Erskine May 15, 2025
Op-Eds
Carol Erskine

Statement on Limited Release of Audio from the Harmony Montgomery Trial

Carol Erskine May 3, 2025
Op-Eds
Carol Erskine

Saving the Children of Pappas Hospital

Carol Erskine February 9, 2025
Op-Eds
Carol Erskine

Massachusetts’ child welfare system is infected with dysfunction

Carol Erskine August 14, 2023

Court TV

Judge Erskine speaks out on Court TV about New Hampshire’s motion to dismiss a breach of fiduciary duty claim in tiny Harmony’s civil case, arguing it owed her no legal duty of care since she wasn’t in state custody —just in the “assessment” phase.

Podcasts

Judge Erskine’s appearances on Podcasts like Jennifer Coffindaffer’s “Break the Case” and Rob Scheer’s “Fostering Change” provide opportunities to discuss the child welfare system and other legal issues.

Fox 25 News

Retired Judge Erskine speaks out on the discrepancies in the testimony of Harmony Montgomery’s social worker compared to what the New Hampshire Governor’s report indicated he did when assigned to the case.

Advocacy and Excellence Awards

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where law, lived experience, and truth meet to confront injustice

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Our Focus
  • Harmony Montogomery
  • The Child Welfare System
  • Missing /Injured Children
  • Domestic Violence

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