SUNBURY - Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor claims attorney Michael Robinson, who serves as solicitor for Children and Youth Services, influenced county commissioners Vinny Clausi and Merle Phillips to remove the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) office from the courthouse as a vendetta against him for a previous court ruling.
Meanwhile, the judge is still seeking an explanation from the commissioners on their decision to evict CASA Director Judy Jones and a part-time case manager from their office, effective Jan. 20.
Although he didn't provide any specific reasons for the decision, Clausi denied Saylor's previous claim that he and Phillips stole Christmas from children in Northumberland County.
Clausi said, "We didn't take anything away from the children for Christmas. We took two individuals out of the courthouse who didn't belong there. I can't discuss anything further about the issue at this time."
In a press release issued Thursday morning, Saylor stated, "In view of my vested interest in CASA to help our neglected and abused children, I hoped an explanation from our outgoing commissioners would be given as to the attack on such an outstanding organization by ordering its move out of the courthouse. I can surmise that these commissioners have been somehow influenced by the solicitor for Northumberland County Children and Youth Services and his cohort, a recently appointed guardian ad litem (party appointed by a court to act in a lawsuit on behalf of another party), both of whom were appointed by these same commissioners."
Although Saylor didn't identify the solicitor for Children and Youth Services and court-appointed guardian in his press release, those respective positions are held by Robinson and Cheryl Humes.
As of Friday afternoon, Robinson had not returned a telephone call made to his Sunbury office late Thursday afternoon seeking comment.
The judge said he has been hearing such cases for 10 years and has been recognized statewide for his expertise and "progressive ideas." He said "these CYS individuals," however, disagreed with a recent ruling.
"Their recourse, as any party, is to file a motion with the court, or appellate review. Moreover, my handling of this case and other cases is also subject to scrutiny by the Judicial Code Board," Saylor said.
"The involvement of the commissioners in cases a judge hears is clearly improper. Judicial independence is the bedrock of our democracy," he continued. "A judge can't be looking over his shoulder in deciding cases as to whether it will be a popular one with the Children and Youth agency, its solicitor, the guardian ad litem, and lastly, the commissioners."
He said CASA and children in the court system are being used as pawns.
"Being miffed by certain court rulings, these individuals are now on a vendetta. Unfortunately, for the CASA office, it was in their wake," Saylor wrote.
Jones was notified Monday that she and a part-time case manager were being evicted and have until Jan. 20 to find a new office.
The national CASA program that provides volunteer advocates for neglected and abused children in the court system was established three years ago in the county by Saylor, who handles custody cases.
The program was launched with a grant from Parent to Parent Connections and has been funded with private donations and contributions from the national CASA organization and Northumberland County Bar Association.