Parents Say Powerful Tennessee Judge Helped Kidnap their Three Children
The Brabson's are living an ongoing nightmare thanks largely to Judge Randy Kennedy
Michael and Jennifer Brabson say nothing more than a small lesion to one of their three children caused a powerful Tennessee judge to take all three of their children.
In 2020, Judge Randy Kennedy handed down the ruling. Find the order here.
“This cause came on to be heard before the Hon. Randy M Kennedy, Juvenile Judge, on November 4, 2020, upon the motion to suspend visitation permanently on behalf of Joseph and Melissa Irvin (Guardians).”
That motion was granted, and the Irvin’s became the only parents in the lives of the Brabson’s three children.
I spoke briefly with Melissa Irvin, but she declined to answer any questions before hanging up.
Melissa Irvin called Jennifer Brabson to inquire about me shortly after our conversation ended.
Jennifer Brabson said her ordeal started in 2016, when her son came to school with a bruise.
“A teacher called social services,” Brabson told me.
In fact, this incident was the second time that social services, referred to as Department of Children Services (DCS) in Tennessee, was involved in the Brabson’s lives.
In 2013, their kids were taken and placed in the system before being returned in 2014, about eighteen months later, Jennifer Brabson told me.
“It was alleged that I had deliberately harmed our oldest son who'd suffered an injury as a result of dangerous circumstances during my period of convalescence,” Jennifer stated in an email about this initial case, “I had developed uterine prolapse / bladder and large intestine prolapse and serious protrusion of cervix through nether-regions after {her son’s} delivery in 2011, leading to serious gynecological - structural - issues, necessitating exclusively ground-level housing?
“The bathroom being on the 2nd floor -> impossible for me to care for the 3 {children}.”
She said she and Michael were separated during this incident.
That initial incident introduced Joseph and Melissa Irvin into the court process as they became their children’s foster parents.
“These were two separate incidents,” Jennifer Brabson insisted.
Judge Randy Kennedy saw it differently stating in his 2020 order, “This matter has been ongoing in this court since March 2013.”
Jennifer further stated that she and Michael have since reconciled and their living situation is now vastly improved.
Brabson said shortly after her son came to school with a bruise that a DCS case was opened.
DCS closed the case a few weeks later but not before it wound up in front of Judge Kennedy.
Jennifer Brabson told me that Judge Kennedy refused to close the case, turning it into a custody case.
He did something unusual.
He awarded primary custody to the Irvin’s while granting the Brabson’s visitation rights.
Jennifer told me that because Judge Kennedy holds so much sway in the area she has seen more than thirty lawyers who all refused to take on the case.
Once in the system, the Brabsons say they were given obstacles which set them up for failure.
Jennifer Brabson was diagnosed with a mental illness.
“Mother continues to suffer mental health issues/complications.” Judge Kennedy’s 2020 order states.
Both parents were also accused of discussing the case with the children in the order, “Father also discusses in the presence of the children they do not need to hear (IE how much support they pay the guardians and maybe all the expense is not worth it).”
Jennifer Brabson told me that when they are allowed to see their children their children are distraught and all they say is that they are going to continue to fight to get them back.
Judge Kennedy’s order continues, “Mother continues to get children to ‘lie’ about what has been said.”
Judge Kennedy provided no evidence or examples of these lies.
The Brabsons also worked with the Center for Family and Judicial Integrity which produced a report questioning other parts of the process. Find the report here.
Here is part of the report.
During the guardianship hearing the state attempted to introduce testimony to instill that Jennifer and Michael relationship was fractured to the point that it created a threat to the safety of the children. During this hearing, Ms. Irving testified that Jennifer would create arguments with Michael based off of differences of opinions on religious opinions. She testified about Jennifer’s issue with Michael “dipping” and how Jennifer compared it to sorcery and that adult material on Michael’s phone was the equivalent to adultery. The context of the testimony suggests that based upon Jennifer’s religious views that she could not be a good parent.
The report continues.
It has been noted throughout the case that the parents have not always agreed with the opinion of the counselors or the state. The issue is that the Court has failed to give any weight to the fact that the Parents have participated and complied with the recommendations that were given despite their difference of opinion on the matter.
The mere fact of the parent’s willingness to participate and comply is evidence of the love they have for the children. It further shows that the parents are acting in the best interests of the children and are fully willing to step out of their comfort zone if the children could benefit in any way.
The state attempts to paint the parents in a light to show that they are combatting everything that has been given for them is not an accurate depiction of the reality. The Court should recognize that the parents are willing to go to any length to benefit their children and will do anything to get their children home.
Jennifer Brabson bluntly told me rhetorically about the allegation that she doesn’t cooperate with counselors, “how can you agree with people trying to take your children?”
She further summarized in an email.
CPS has a "cookie-cutter" approach to seizing children, which has been working. Their playbook is not unique across the country. Our stories all bear striking similarities and the "psych eval" is often a common weapon in "cases."
She continued specifically about Judge Kennedy.
He gets away with intimidation, violations of due process, constitutional rights, and other violations because he ensures NO CRITIQUING of his cases can occur. Records are sealed, inaccessible and falsifications cannot be scrutinized. Not even by the upper courts who's job it is to ensure justice prevail.
The system-failsafes in place to prevent these atrocities from occurring are not working, and costs to rectify said atrocities are prohibitive.
They’re dirty venues (these "courts") and the deck is heavily stacked AGAINST reunification, "right-and-wrong" be damned.
Jennifer told me that the Irvin’s allow one visit a year over Christmas and another over Easter; they had their Christmas visit on December 17.
They are also allowed weekly phone calls.
They had a child after 2016; they moved out of the State of Tennessee after having their youngest child, fearing that DCS would come after this one. They continue to have custody of this child.
Post Script: Find the Tennessee fundraiser to continue more DCS and family court stories in that state.
The judiciary has run rampant without accountability along with CPS willy-nilly destroying families and calling fit parents unfit and mentally ill.