Judge fights ruling against her in custody lawsuit

DETROIT (AP) -- A Detroit-area judge wants a federal appeals court to intervene in a lawsuit linked to the accidental consumption of alcohol by a child at a Detroit Tigers game. The parents of Leo Ratte are suing Judge Judy Hartsfield. In 2008, the 7-year-old boy was temporarily removed from them when his father mistakenly gave him Mike's Hard Lemonade at Comerica Park. A police officer took steps to put Leo into protective custody for several days. Hartsfield had a practice of signing blank forms and leaving them to be filled in by authorities to remove children from parents. Federal Judge Avern Cohn recently said Hartsfield has no immunity in the case and can be sued. She wants an appeals court to overturn that decision. Published: Fri, Dec 27, 2013