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We all know that our justice system is not fair. One obvious way to improve this is to have better – as in more thorough, inclusive and transparent - judicial review. You can file this under: ‘none of this is hard.’ However, my Kafkaesque experience trying to reach somebody in the judicial branch says otherwise.

“One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts.” C.S. Lewis

Three men talked about how they felt their treatment was demoralizing and demeaning in front of Northern California Judge Wendy Coats. They were in court dealing with domestic matters relating to divorce.

“There’s nothing we can do we are powerless against her and her whims. She’s shouting at people in court, rolling her eyes, scoffing,” one said.

“As a father I don’t get heard in the courtroom I get looked down on,” Travis Sheridan shared. “It’s been unfair and biased.”

Jeremy White is a father of two. “I came out of those first hearings with Coats thinking, I felt like my ex got away with breaking the law and our custody agreement, cool.“

It’s not exactly a surprise when people have choice words for their judge. Imagine 50% of people you deal with are going to think you were wrong. Thick skin is required for the job, but so too is heart and preparation. While many may argue with how to quantify the former, the latter is clearly quantifiable. Of course judges have a hard job, mentally and emotionally, yet by the example we’ve seen of some recent Supreme Court nominees and cases like Brock Turner, it’s no wonder trust in our judiciary is around 50%. Yet despite this pressing need for change our system keeps limping along with no drastic change in sight.

“Yesterday is not tomorrow’s answer...The American justice system cannot sit idly by and expect to remain relevant and respected indefinitely.” John T. Broderick, Jr. Former chief justice, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire

Like doctors, all judges need to be the highest standard throughout their career. However, when people have a similar issue with a judge there’s little recourse that helps their immediate concerns and situation. Our judiciary needs to get with modern times.

It’s known that our justice system is deeply flawed, however it’s time we look at how our judges are part of the issue and address it in a meaningful way in all states. While how judges get the job varies - appointments by governors or voted in - so too does evaluation. Many of the discussions and discipline of judges occurs behind closed doors and months later, with only a small fraction being considered worthy of investigation. Meanwhile, people go before the judges and lives are affected and – wait, what’s the definition of insanity again? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different result.  Right.