Michael Lief

This judge is a criminal acting under the color of law to deprive people he doesn't like of their civil rights. He made multiple due process violations that prejudiced my case. He's a major source of injustice in Ventura County and he needs to go.

https://thecurrentreport.com/the-fix-was-in-a-six-year-pattern-of-judicial-bias-in-mma-fighter-amir-rahnavardis-ventura-county-case/

I am writing about family law matters

Judge Michael Lief should not be on the bench in my matters. Every judge

With regard to monetary issues...the person who gave high marks sounds like perhaps money was the main focus. Money was not the focus for myself, though it was part of what was brought before this judge. Judge Lief followed the guidelines for support. Ex lied about income and got away with a lot, but did not have it reduced to zero as requested. I had been advised to request support, but would trade every dollar (which did not cover close to the cost for all of this) to have my children in a safe and healthy environment. It is unfortunate that an individual's financial success in court would cause "surprise" at so many negative reports regarding sexism in deciding custody by this judge. Just because a judge thinks men should pay something toward support doesn't mean that judge understands the damage to children and their mothers by abusive fathers. This judge does not get it. Money doesn't buy safety or happiness. For victims of abuse the custody decisions cause lifelong therapist bills for the kids. I'd rather have safety and peace.

RE: CA54297 “Surprised to read these other comments.” This exact same language (or close to it) has been said before on other Ventura judges. It’s no surprise that judges and their staff are seeking to distract from legitimate criticism using false flag posts. Many legal abuse victims have come forward concerning judge Lief. Several attorneys are aware of his bias issues. I can literally count the attorneys who have contacted me, but I need both hands to do it. He is not a good judge. Your family’s safety is not worth the risk. Paper this judge before he makes a first decision in your case. 170.6 Very Truly, Ventura County’s Radiant Truth

He was very fair and saw through my ex husband's thin logic trying to get child support reduced to zero. Judge Lief made an efficient ruling on child support, and imputed a reasonable income on my ex spouse. I came in with a realistic request for order, was organized, and respectful. He appreciates preparedness and reasonableness. I didn't see any sexism or other bias. Surprised to read these other comments.

Radiant Truth is spot on. Judges need to do a better job and believe victims. Hilary Clinton once said, "Victims have a right to be believed," and it is true. I've been in practice for over 10 years as a family law attorney, and I've never met a client who wasn't telling me the truth about their abusive relationship. The truth is that false accusations are extremely rare, not domestic violence. Violence against women is actually extremely common. Judges should watch this video to educate themselves on the problem, "How common are false accusations, really?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvBPIDuWGOI

Dear Judge Lief, Over the years I have witnessed numerous instances of protective mothers escaping abuse being disbelieved and revictimized in your court. You really need to be trained on the facts about domestic violence. Here’s an excerpt from an online article you should read and consider: “Judges are suspicious about who is making the domestic abuse allegations. Often the woman might appear ‘crazy’ because she has suffered the impact of trauma and to them that makes her less credible. Then, the father comes in, often charismatic, saying, ‘I’m a reasonable person.’ And when he might say the mother is a good one and she should have visitation, he looks more reasonable.” Why do judges do it? It’s “good old misogyny and the trope of women who want revenge after he cheats on her” portrayed in the media, movies and literature. “The second thing is it’s more comfortable to accept the explanation that women are crazy, rather than that many men are violent,” she said. “Statistics about fathers being violent against women and children are super high and judges see the most conflictual cases—so an even higher proportion of violence. But it’s difficult for them to believe that all these men are violent. … It simply cannot be true. Judges cling to the idea that domestic abuse is rare and an exception.” Domestic abuse victims suffer intimate partner trauma to themselves and their children, but when they go to the legal system for help, they are actually punished for being traumatized. This causes a secondary trauma wound called institutional betrayal: when an institution causes harm to the very people who depend on it. “Institutional betrayal can occur through ignorance, meaning you don’t have to wake up with evil thoughts to cause harm. You can cause harm because you’re ignorant and don’t understand interpersonal violence,” Very Truly, Ventura County’s Radiant Truth

Lief likes to pretend he’s a cowboy in his off hours, but just like his courtroom performance he’s “all hat, no cattle.” He only pretends to do his job, but in truth he’s incredibly incompetent and has no idea what he’s doing. In family court, this is a recipe for disaster with dire consequences, especially for women escaping abuse. He’s a very bad judge.

When victims of domestic abuse go to court, we expect to be heard and treated with respect by the judge. Judge Lief awarded everything to my abusive ex-husband because I complained about being beaten by him the day I left. He gave me a hairline fracture to my orbital rim when he beat me on my face. Lief actually bought my ex’s conspiracy story saying I fell down the stairs and blamed him as “harassment”. That’s what every abuser says to try to turn the tables on their victim. Lief said I was alienating the children and that there was “no evidence” of abuse. It’s just not fair. You can’t challenge the judge after they do this to you, the system is designed to shut you up and oppress women. Lief needs DV training, but more than that he should stop being a family law judge and resign for what he did to me and the others who have also told their stories about this judge. He’s a terrible person.

Judge Lief should not be allowed to handle cases in family law. He is lazy, allows bullying in his courtroom and does not respect his job, nor the individuals whose lives he negatively impacts with his personal biases and incompetence. At the risk of retaliation I will not post specifics, but suffice it to say, pray you do not end up in his courtroom especially if you have been a victim of abuse of any kind because you, and your children will be subject to further abuse at the demand of the court. This man recklessly endangers those who should be protected at all costs. [Redacted by Ed.] I absolutely give credence to the statements already written. This man believes women make things up to "get back at" men and lawyers in his courtroom know how to play this bias to their advantage and will make up lies to make it appear women have complained even when they haven't knowing full well he will buy the bait. Disgraceful and harmful.

POOR This man THREATENED MY LIFE!!!!

When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty

Michael Lief acted like an advocate for my abuser. He seems fair as you go through trial, but he’s incredibly biased, finding creative ways to rule against. I was raped and suffered physical injury. Lief disallowed my medical records showing mutilation of my genitalia by my abuser. He won’t give you a fair trial, quite the opposite. I wish I had used my 170.6.

This judge gave my abusive ex custody of my children and falsely accused me of being the abuser! He denied my DVRO and said I filed it because I was angry that my ex was dating!!! He is terrible and puts children and women at risk!

RE: CA48043 Dear Public, This victim's case is one of the most disturbing I have come across in my several years of advocacy for victims of crime. The pure emotion and pain of this victim should give us all pause. Anger is an expression of hopelessness and is common in survivors of sexual assault; it is a strong indicator of truth. Abusers will often gaslight victims of crime by using their PTSD symptoms against them to cast doubt, which are the very symptoms they created in the first place with their abuse. They use the biases and prejudices of the community against their victims to revictimize them over and over again. I have been in contact with this victim and they have provided me with their medical records. These medical records have not yet been published in order to protect the victim from retaliation. Lief is responsible for allowing the perpetrator to repeatedly lie and hijack the court to further torture and humiliate his victim. It has been going on for over 10 years, and it needs to stop. This victim keeps getting dragged back to court over and over, forced to pay judgements and sanctions over and over. It is theft and corruption. Fraud on the court is corruption no matter how the court tries to spin it! We will publish this victim's medical records proving rape and physical injury once it is safe for the victim. If you have information on Judge Lief, we want to hear from you. Email us at RadiantTruth@pm.me Very Truly, Ventura County's Radiant Truth

Dear Protective Parent, Lief has been reported to us many times for bias, especially against women and victims of violence. He seems to not believe victims, and views any claims of violence with skepticism. He does this even in the face of overwhelming physical evidence such as medical records showing injury, such as the mutilation that happens following a rape, but he seeks out ways to block any evidence contrary to his pre-established notions and biases. I have many examples of bias by this judge. Contact me and we can discuss resources that can expose this judge so others can know what to expect and so they can file a 170.6 peremptory challenge prior to a first ruling by this judge on their cases. Very Truly, Ventura County’s Radiant Truth

This judges has left children in the custody of their abuses and refused a

RE: CA45100 Dear Private, Lief has serious misconduct in his personal life that makes him far from the "10 stars" judge that you claim. A multiplicity of attorneys have confided with me privately that this judge rules based on his own internal prejudices, especially against single moms and victims of sexual assault. Several posters have shared their stories with me including: 1) A victim of sexual assault who was ordered by Lief to pay their rapist over $40,000 in attorney fees after he denied a garden variety restraining order. The victim presented medical records from two separate doctors detailing mutilation of the genitals, call records proving stalking, and the perpetrator's own admissions in prior restraining order hearings, but not even this was enough to overcome Lief's bias. 2) A single mom shared her young daughter's story of being raped by her father and injecting her with drugs against her will. The mom video taped her daughter's recollection of the abuse while they played with toys in a way that child development experts will agree can't be couched. Lief gave the abusive dad full custody after the mom tried to protect her daughter in court by asking for a restraining order. The daughter's abuse continues even today. Lief does not deserve a glowing 10/10 review simply because he did his job ONCE in your case. It doesn't redeem the victims he has created in other cases, which reveals his true character. Lief is not a good judge. 170.6. Very Truly, Ventura County's Radiant Truth