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Hon. Kathleen E. Johnson

Circuit Court · Oregon

★☆☆☆☆ 1.0 1 review
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★☆☆☆☆ Anonymous reviewer

divorce and custody Fairness & Impartiality: In my experience, Judge Kathleen Johnson was not fair or impartial in my divorce and custody case, and the way my case was handled caused serious and lasting harm to my children and our family. My divorce judgment was finalized without proper notice to me and without a meaningful opportunity to be heard on key terms. Provisions were included that I had not agreed to, and I was never given a fair chance to challenge or address those changes before the order was entered. From my perspective, this violated basic fairness and due process. There were several writ of assistance issued in favors of my x when it was either my time with the boys or I didn't even have them and when I asked those be removed from record it was refused. What concerns me most, however, is what happened to my children as a result of how the case was handled. Instead of protecting their well-being and relationships, the court allowed decisions that contributed to their separation from their father and from each other. The importance of maintaining those family bonds did not appear to be meaningfully considered or protected. I also witnessed the allowance of serious false allegations and perjured statements by my ex-spouse and her attorneys without any accountability. These statements had a direct impact on custody decisions and the direction of the case, yet there were no consequences or scrutiny that I could see. In my opinion, this created a one-sided process where unverified or false claims were given weight while my concerns were not equally considered. Additionally, I experienced what I believe to be improper ex parte communication, which further undermined my confidence that the process was neutral and fair. The court’s decisions regarding my children were also inconsistent and, in my view, harmful. One child was ordered to attend counseling with a therapist who had an established, long-term relationship with the other parent, while another child was allowed to have a separate, independent counselor. This inconsistency raised serious concerns about neutrality and whether the children’s best interests were being prioritized. Throughout the proceedings, I was also treated in a manner that felt dismissive and, at times, demeaning. For example, I was criticized for basic courtroom politeness, such as addressing individuals respectfully with “sir” or “ma’am,” which added to the sense that I was not being treated fairly or with neutrality. Family court decisions have profound and lasting impacts on children. In my case, I believe the court failed to protect my children from emotional harm, failed to ensure a fair and balanced process, and allowed conduct that undermined the integrity of the proceedings. Based on my experience, I do not believe Judge Kathleen Johnson handled my case with the fairness, impartiality, or care that families and children deserve. Judicial Temperament: Johnson has an extreme temper and often yells and or belittles Communication: Johnson allowed ex parte communication via email from my x wife's attorney and when I would respond and ask if I could defend myself Johnson would say no that she had already considered her ruling.