Judge Cynda Riggins-Unger SUCCESSFULLY SERVED With Notice of Intent to Circulate Recall Petition, SOLANO COUNTY “FIVE IN FIVE”
After evading service of recall petition by summoning Solano County Sherriffs to block advocates from service, Judge Cynda Riggins-Unger was successfully served with the notice of intent to circulate recall petition the morning of February 22, by a process server.
Unger evaded service twice: once at the Superior Court, and a second time when a process server was commissioned to serve her. The process server was finally able to serve the documents to the Clerk for Department 5.
This is the fifth time in five years that advocates have attempted to recall a Solano County Family Court judge, for failing to protect women and children from documented cases of physical and sexual abuse, a landmark issue advocates are naming “Five in Five”.
2013 – Judge Daniel Healey, who was subsequently publicly admonished by the Commission on Judicial Performance and moved out of Family Court.
2014 – Judge Cynda Riggins-Unger, who still serves on the Family Court bench
2017 – Judge Christine Carringer, who still serves on the Family Court bench
2017 – Judge Garry Ichikawa, who immediately announced his retirement
2018 – Judge Cynda Riggins-Unger, served again
Over three dozen litigants have written formal complaints to the Commission on Judicial Performance about the judges’ behavior, alleging violations of the California Code of Judicial Ethics. The Commission on Judicial Performance is currently under heavy public and regulatory scrutiny for what is statistically documented to be a failure to address warranted complaints.
The Protective Mothers of Solano County have gathered more than 150 women impacted by an alleged dangerous bias in Solano County Family Court that disregards evidence of sexual and physical abuse and punishes women for speaking out.
Not all impacted litigants are mothers, women who have a romantic relationship, but no children, are also required to pursue protective orders through family court. This, advocates claim, further harms women who need protective orders.
In 2016 Judge Garry Ichikawa refused to provide a protective order to Kenesha Jackson, a Department of Rehabilitation employee who hand-wrote her pleadings. Shortly thereafter, Everett Highbaugh, the man from whom she was seeking protection, allegedly murdered Jackson in her home while her children were present. The case currently awaits trial.
Advocates claim this is one of many cases where judges blatantly refused to consider credible evidence of abuse and habitually ruled against the victims of domestic violence.
In one case, Judge Garry Ichikawa officially ordered the destruction of evidence.
“The most difficult part about this is building awareness. People always look for what the woman did to cause this, they don’t believe that judges are biased,” Advocate J.C. claims.
Advocates have been attempting to address the problem in family court for more than five years. Advocates claim that the problems with the judges are well known throughout the Solano Superior Court, Domestic Violence Agencies, as well as local attorneys. But no one has actually stepped up to address the issue.
With #metoo gaining steam and the public starting to raise awareness of issues of sexual and domestic abuse against women, as well as pervasive abuse of power shielded and protected by enablers, advocates are hoping that finally, people will begin to listen and help address the issue in Solano County.
Women and children are literally dying.
Release regarding Unger’s evasion of service at: http://recalljudgeunger.com/evades
Release regarding Unger’s recall at: www.recalljudgeunger.com/release
For more information, contact:
Protective Mothers of Solano County
Committee for the Recall of Judge Cynda Riggins-Unger
PH: 707-430-5095
FAX: 707-637-8730
EMAIL: info@recalljudgeunger.com
For a series of articles addressing the problem in Solano County: http://solanofamilies.org