Those in law enforcement make a living of ensuring that others uphold the law, but ironically, they don’t always follow the rules themselves. Even judges must pay child support, as one Michigan circuit court judge recently found out. He tried unsuccessfully to get out of paying an old child support bill to his ex-wife.
The judge and his wife were married for 16 years until their divorce in 2011. They have two daughters together, who are now 13 and 16. The ex-wife never received payment for August 2012 child support until she found a check in her mailbox this past October. The check could not be cashed, and the money went back into the judge’s bank account.
The ex-wife took the judge to court. Another judge ordered that he pay the $1,750 in owed child support. But now that attorney fees have risen to $9,000, the ex-wife is trying to get the judge to pay that amount as well, so the battle continues.
This was not the first time that the judge has tried to get out of supporting his children. In July, he asked to terminate his parental rights after his daughters witnessed his girlfriend driving drunk while they were in the car.
It takes two parents to create children, and both parents need to take responsibility for them. With a $140,000 annual salary, the judge certainly has enough money to financially support his children. Attempting to terminate his parental rights just so he can cease child support payments is not what a good father would do. It’s an unfortunate situation for his children, as that is not in their best interests.
If you are facing a child support battle with a custodial or non-custodial parent, you should know that you have rights. An experienced attorney can provide valuable advice as to how best to proceed in your situation.
Source: Macomb Daily, “Macomb County judge pays $1,750 in old child support” Jameson Cook, Jan. 10, 2014