After a lengthy legal battle between her parents and the state of Massachusetts, Justina Pelletier is finally heading home.
Thanks to the help of a pro-life legal group fighting on their behalf, Judge Johnson signed an order releasing Justina Pelletier to her parents, Lou and Linda Pelletier.
In his decision, he wrote, “I find that the parties have shown by credible evidence that circumstances have changed since the adjudication on Dec. 20, 2013, that Justina is a child in need of care and protection pursuant to G.L. c. 199, 24-26. Effective Wednesday, June 18, 2014, this care and protection petition is dismissed and custody of Justina is returned to her parents, Lou and Linda Pelletier.”
“We are thrilled that Justina will finally be returning home tomorrow,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “The family looks forward to putting this 16-month nightmare behind them. Justina and her family now begin the process of healing both physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”
“As you might imagine, the Pelletier family is overjoyed and planning a wonderful homecoming for Justina,” he said. “After months of fighting this legal battle on behalf of the Pelletier family, we are thrilled that Justina will finally be returning home. The Pelletier family looks forward to putting this 16-month nightmare behind them. Justina and her family now begins the process of healing physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”
The decision came on the heels of a video from Justina pleading with the judge to release her.
“All I really want to be with is with my family and my friends,” Justina said in the video. “You can do it. You’re the one that’s judging this. Please let me go home Judge Johnson and Gov. Patrick,” Justina continued. “Please, right now. Please let me go home right now. I need to be home with my family and just please do it.”
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Pelletier is the Connecticut teen taken from her family more than a year ago by Massachusetts officials after her parents took her to a hospital for help. The Massachusetts state Department of Children and Families made the initial decision to commit the girl to state care on Valentine’s Day 2013 after doctors at Tufts Medical Center, which had been treating her for a rare condition, and doctors as Boston Children’s Hospital clashed over the cause of her medical problems, which included difficulty eating and walking.
The case drew national attention, as Boston Children’s Hospital filed a “medical child abuse” complaint against Justina’s parents last year, leading the state to take custody of her and hospitalize her for almost a year.
Last week, in a dramatic reversal, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) filed a motion with the courts agreeing with our petition to have Justina Pelletier returned home to her family.
The motion for review of reconsideration and dismissal followed Liberty Counsel’s prior motion to return Justina home.
DCF’s concession completely undercut their argument and reasoning for performing a “parent-ectomy” and removing Justina from the care of the Pelletiers in the first place.
