Rotten-apple judge awards child-custody in divorce to homeless dad

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/bum_deal_for_ma_50kpwHhELzyG0bI4Io7XoJ

Judge gives custody of son to homeless dad

WILLIAM J. GORTA

2011/02/28 11:28

A Brooklyn judge ordered a teen to live with his homeless dad -- in a shelter -- after the boy's mom, a $90,000-a-year court worker, was critical of the legal process, court papers reveal.

Jeannette Traylor was even denied visitation rights -- despite the fact that the 17-year-old boy's dad, John Jacobs, "has been living in storefronts and borrowed rooms and basements" for years, according to the court papers.

The dad "constantly misled" investigators -- and a psychologist testified that he had "severe reservations" about Jacobs' parenting skills, the papers say.

PUZZLING: Homeless John Jacobs (above) yesterday, won custody of his teen son from mom Jeanette Traylor, who lives in a decidedly more upscale building, also in Flatbush.

"I begged the judge please not to play with my son's life," Traylor told The Post. "What my ex-husband does doesn't surprise me. But I expected better when I went to court."

But Jacobs insisted to The Post that the teen is better off with him.

"If I was in a cardboard box and if it was better for my son, so be it," said the dad, who lives with the teen in a city-run shelter in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

"One parent is healthier for the child than the other . . . When you add the whole thing together, I'm better for the boy. That's the bottom line."

The couple broke up in 1994, not long after their son was born. They shared joint custody for a period, until a judge gave Traylor primary physical custody in 2001.

But Jacobs refused to accept that decision.

So over the next decade, he and Traylor -- a court clerk in Manhattan Supreme Court and a 30-year employee of the system -- wound up filing more than two-and-a-half dozen petitions and motions.

Their battle culminated with Family Court Judge Bernard Graham's ruling earlier this month taking custody from Traylor and giving it to Jacobs.

Court papers reveal a 2008 allegation by the teen that Traylor struck him with an umbrella, a charge she denies.

The judge's decision also shows that Traylor had been arrested several times, but notes that she has never been convicted of anything. Traylor said all the arrests were at her husband's request.

Before rendering his final decision, the judge took a swipe at Traylor for being "quick to offer barbed criticism of the court and the legal process."

In the end, the judge said, his decision was based on the wishes of the boy, a junior at a Brooklyn Catholic high school where his mother pays the tuition.

The teen demanded to live with his father, telling the court that Traylor was "self-absorbed" and uninterested in his issues, the court said.

Graham -- who has since been transferred to hear civil cases in Brooklyn -- did not return a call for comment.

The child's law guardian declined to comment.

william.gorta@nypost.com

[Krikit 1,164]

Moving from P&R to Off Topic.

[Dakine10 5,452]

The teen demanded to live with his father, telling the court that Traylor was "self-absorbed" and uninterested in his issues, the court said.

That statement probably had a lot of influence in the judges decision, given that the kid is 17 years old.

I would have been surprised to see this outcome with a younger child, but this kid is almost an adult.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Good for the dad ! More than likely the dad paid for his ex wifes schooling, she then started getting it on with a co worker, and then he got raped by the court system when they got divorced.

[Fandango 1,439]

Good for the dad ! More than likely the dad paid for his ex wifes schooling, she then started getting it on with a co worker, and then he got raped by the court system when they got divorced.

lol you still trolling?

[trillium13 84]

If that's what the kid wanted, that should have the highest consideration. He's old enough to decide. He'll be on his own soon enough.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

lol you still trolling?

lol...hiya Lisa

[spookyturtle 9,466]

He's a Rotten-Apple Judge, so does that mean he's an iJudge?

[Dan and Judy 614]

what the hell is she doing in a court to earn $90,000.

you got lawyers and judges and cops, that just leaves secretaries

I think she's still banging somebody

[Dan and Judy 614]

what the hell is she doing in a court to earn $90,000.

you got lawyers and judges and cops, that just leaves secretaries

I think she's still banging somebody

Ok I read it, she's a court clerk, thats a ridiculous salary

speaking of salary, They forgot to mention child support

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Ok I read it, she's a court clerk, thats a ridiculous salary

speaking of salary, They forgot to mention child support

Do you know how hard a court clerks job is? I do and they earn EVERY cent, especially in the "Sue, S of A".

Anyway how do we know that the dad isn't living in cardboard boxes because of the mother and all the suing for custody (or to stop paying child support)? That's gotta drain the bank account. I commend him for not giving up. Now the mother will have to pay child support to the dad. Good. I've gotta say if the mum really was a good mum the kid wouldn't leave a $90K parent in favour of living out of a box.. so something was definitely wrong with the mum.

The kids 17, he wanted to live with the dad and so now he is. I really doubt it was because the mother complained about the legal system.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

He's a Rotten-Apple Judge, so does that mean he's an iJudge?

what the hell is she doing in a court to earn $90,000.

you got lawyers and judges and cops, that just leaves secretaries

I think she's still banging somebody

In the rotten-apple, that is close to minimum-wage actually.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Do you know how hard a court clerks job is? I do and they earn EVERY cent, especially in the "Sue, S of A".

I'm also guessing Dan has never been in NYC nor checked housing-listings for it. DC metro area looks like a bargain by comparison.

Anyway how do we know that the dad isn't living in cardboard boxes because of the mother and all the suing for custody (or to stop paying child support)? That's gotta drain the bank account. I commend him for not giving up. Now the mother will have to pay child support to the dad. Good. I've gotta say if the mum really was a good mum the kid wouldn't leave a $90K parent in favour of living out of a box.. so something was definitely wrong with the mum.

The kids 17, he wanted to live with the dad and so now he is. I really doubt it was because the mother complained about the legal system.