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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.07.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Request for Assistance Regarding Butte County Family Court ProceedingsFrom:Clerk of the Board To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Little, Melissa; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Request for Assistance Regarding Butte County Family Court Proceedings Date:Friday, May 8, 2026 8:53:37 AM Attachments:Butte_County_Board_Complaint_Ramirez.pdf Please see Board Correspondence - Lewis Lee Administrative Technician - Confidential Butte County Administration 25 County Center Drive, Suite 200 • Oroville, CA 95965 T: 530.552.3326 www.buttecounty.ca.gov | lelee@buttecounty.ca.gov -----Original Message----- From: Cassandra Ramirez <1cassandraramirez@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2026 9:35 PM To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.ca.gov> Subject: Request for Assistance Regarding Butte County Family Court Proceedings .ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying.. Formal Constituent Complaint and Request for Assistance - Ramirez v. Henderson, Case No. 16FL00338 FORMAL CONSTITUENT COMPLAINT AND REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE Regarding Butte County Family Law Proceedings, Due Process Concerns, and Access to Oversight Resources Ramirez v. Henderson, Butte County Superior Court Case No. 16FL00338 Date: May 7, 2026 To: Supervisor Doug Teeter, District 5, Butte County Board of Supervisors Cc: Clerk of the Board / Board Correspondence From: Cassandra Renee Ramirez Re: Request for assistance, referral, and review of public concern regarding procedural fairness in Butte County family court proceedings INTRODUCTION I respectfully submit this constituent complaint and request for assistance regarding serious concerns involving procedural fairness, meaningful access to the court process, and my ability to be heard in ongoing family law proceedings in Butte County Superior Court, Case No. 16FL00338. I understand that the Butte County Board of Supervisors does not serve as an appellate court and cannot overturn custody orders, direct a judge how to rule, or interfere with the lawful authority of the Superior Court. I am not submitting this request for that purpose. I am asking for assistance as a Butte County constituent in identifying the proper oversight, administrative, and public accountability channels available when a parent believes she has been denied a meaningful opportunity to present evidence and be heard in proceedings affecting parental rights and child visitation. This request follows the same concerns set out in my formal complaint regarding judicial conduct and procedural fairness. My concerns are not based merely on disagreement with rulings. My concern is that there has been a repeated pattern in which emergency and restrictive custody orders continued without a completed evidentiary hearing where I could fully testify, present evidence, respond to allegations, and place rehabilitation and compliance evidence before the court. CASE INFORMATION Complainant / Requesting Constituent:Cassandra Renee Ramirez Court:Superior Court of California, County of Butte Case Number:16FL00338 Judicial Officer Identified in Complaint:Hon. Clare Keithley Matter:Family law custody and visitation proceedings involving emergency orders, mediation recommendations, supervised visitation, and continuances of trial/evidentiary proceedings SUMMARY OF CONCERNS I am requesting assistance and referral because I believe my case raises concerns about access to justice, procedural fairness, and meaningful participation in family court proceedings. The central issue is not simply that decisions were made against me. The central issue is that the decisions affected my relationship with my children while I believe I was not given a complete and fair opportunity to present evidence, testify, call witnesses, respond to allegations, or explain my rehabilitation, stability, and compliance history. Formal Constituent Complaint and Request for Assistance - Ramirez v. Henderson, Case No. 16FL00338 Prior to and throughout these proceedings, I had made substantial efforts toward rehabilitation, stability, and compliance. This included counseling, treatment, DUI education programs, diversion requirements, parenting- related programs, probation compliance without violations, sobriety, higher education as a full-time student, stable housing efforts, and continued participation in counseling and parenting-related services. I believe these facts were highly relevant to custody and visitation but were not meaningfully considered before restrictive orders continued. I am also concerned that important proceedings occurred without an adequate record. After contacting the clerk’s office regarding transcripts or recordings, I was informed that no transcript or audio recording was available because no court reporter or recording had been requested. As a self-represented or partially represented parent unfamiliar with court procedure at different stages, I did not understand that such a request needed to be made in advance to preserve a record. This has made it significantly harder to document statements, objections, and events that occurred during hearings affecting my parental rights. CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY September 29, 2025: Emergency custody orders were granted in the case. These orders significantly affected custody and visitation and began a period in which my contact with my children became highly restricted. November 19, 2025: The matter came before Judge Clare Keithley regarding emergency custody and restraining order issues. My counsel objected to continuation of emergency restrictions and argued that there was not a sufficient basis to continue the orders through the next hearing date, especially where the related criminal matter was pending and the accused individual remained in custody. The matter was referred to mediation rather than proceeding with what I believed would be an evidentiary hearing where evidence and witness testimony could be presented. January 7, 2026: The matter returned from mediation. The mediator reportedly recommended expanded parenting time for me, including alternating weekend visitation. My counsel agreed with the recommendation. However, the court did not adopt that recommendation and instead ordered only one professionally supervised visit per week for up to three hours, with the cost of supervision placed on me and possible increased visitation dependent on eight consecutive positive supervision reports. I am concerned that the court deviated significantly from the mediator’s recommendation without giving me a meaningful opportunity to testify, present evidence, or fully respond. May 1, 2026: The matter was scheduled for trial regarding the emergency custody orders. Before proceedings on the record, the parties agreed to appointment of minor’s counsel. When proceedings resumed, the trial was continued pending appointment of minor’s counsel, and the existing restrictive orders remained in place. My counsel objected, noting that I had already been deprived of in-person contact with my children for approximately one year and requesting that trial proceed so evidence could begin to be presented. The objections were overruled. WHY I AM ASKING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR ASSISTANCE I am respectfully asking the Board of Supervisors and my district representative to receive this complaint as a constituent concern and direct me to any proper county, state, or judicial oversight channels that may review concerns involving access to justice, administrative barriers, public accountability, and the preservation of rights in Butte County family court proceedings. I understand that the Board cannot change the outcome of my case or instruct the court how to rule. However, as a member of the public affected by government systems in Butte County, I am asking for help identifying where a parent may turn when she believes court processes have prevented her from creating a record, presenting evidence, being heard, or having rehabilitation evidence meaningfully considered before severe restrictions on parental rights are continued. I am also asking for assistance identifying whether there are county-level committees, public comment procedures, Grand Jury complaint options, court administration contacts, legislative contacts, or other lawful Formal Constituent Complaint and Request for Assistance - Ramirez v. Henderson, Case No. 16FL00338 avenues where concerns about access to justice and procedural fairness may be submitted without improperly interfering with an active case. REQUESTED ACTION I respectfully request the following: • That this complaint be received as constituent correspondence and forwarded to the appropriate office or committee if necessary; • That I be directed to any proper Butte County, California state, or judicial oversight resource that may review access-to-justice or procedural fairness concerns; • That I be provided information about how to submit a public comment, Board correspondence, or Grand Jury complaint if those avenues are appropriate; • That I be advised whether there is any county-level process for raising concerns about the absence of court records, transcripts, or recordings in hearings affecting fundamental parental rights; and • That my concerns be treated respectfully and not dismissed merely because they arise from a family law case. ATTACHMENTS / SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS I am prepared to provide or attach supporting documentation, including: • Formal Complaint Against Judicial Officer; • Attorney hearing summaries and objections; • Minute orders and relevant family law orders available to me; • Mediator / Child Custody Recommending Counselor recommendation regarding timeshare; • Proof of rehabilitation, compliance, counseling, parenting programs, education, probation compliance, and related documentation; • Correspondence showing my efforts to obtain transcripts or recordings, if available. CONCLUSION I respectfully submit this request in good faith. I am not asking the Board of Supervisors to overturn a judge’s ruling or interfere with the court. I am asking for help ensuring that my concerns are directed to the proper oversight and public accountability channels and that my rights as a parent and litigant are not ignored. The proceedings described above have had an extreme impact on my relationship with my children. I respectfully ask that this matter be treated with the seriousness it deserves and that I be provided direction regarding the proper avenues available to preserve my rights, present my evidence, and raise concerns about procedural fairness in a lawful and respectful manner. Respectfully submitted, Cassandra Renee Ramirez Date: May 7, 2026