Dads Rally behind Attorney Barbara Johnson By Ed Oliver June 4, 2002 A group of fathers picketed in front of the Suffolk County Probate and Family Court in Boston yesterday to lend support to Attorney Barbara Johnson, a champion of their cause who was involved in a contentious divorce trial inside.

Johnson pushed an empty wheelchair into the courtroom saying, "Justice is handicapped. We're going to resuscitate due process and equal protection."

The lawyer surprised court officers and opposing lawyers when she pushed an empty wheelchair into the courtroom saying, "Justice is handicapped. We're going to resuscitate due process and equal protection."

She claims that Judge Lisa A. Roberts will not let her investigate allegations of sexual molestation of her client's son by the mother's father. The mother, a rich lawyer, moved with the twin boys to Maine to live with the grandfather in December of 1999.

"This judge has aided and abetted sexual abuse by stopping discovery," said Johnson. She said judicial immunity must be abolished so judges can be held responsible for their actions.

According to Johnson, the grandfather, who spends his time in schoolyards and wherever children can be found, had previously been accused of sexually abusing one of his daughters, but he blamed it on a priest.

"Are we dealing with a wayward priest, a false allegation against a priest, or a serial pedophile?" asked Johnson, who said she also has proof of fraud on the part of the wife and her lawyers relating to financial aspects of the divorce.

Wants to Clean Up Courts

Johnson, who lives in Andover, is attempting to get on the ballot as a long-shot independent candidate for governor. She said she would like to clean up the courts and government agencies that hurt families.

Johnson told MassNews, "Temporary restraining orders must be abolished. Child support guidelines must be totally reformed. Men are being made into wallets and strangers to their children. Both parents have equal responsibility for raising and supporting their children. The subtraction of $20,000 from the custodial parent's income must be abolished."

Johnson's Campaign Manager, Paul Bowes, who is also a member of the Fatherhood Coalition, told MassNews "Barbara is a hell of a lawyer. We're having a great time gathering signatures for her. We need to clean house, because the current candidates are not going to support any divorcing fathers at all. We've had no support from Weld, Cellucci, or Jane Swift. I don't anticipate any help from the other candidates either."

Bowes said the Fatherhood Coalition, which is now officially ten years old, is having a Fathers Day pancake breakfast in Holyoke at the Elks Lodge from 9 to 1.

Information about the Johnson campaign can be found at: http://www.barbforgovernor.com/