The Victims of Jessica St. Clair, MFT – Part Four

Racial Discrimination, Gender Bias, and Abuse Cover-Ups

May 22, 2025

Dr. Stacey Kinney, Jessica St. Clair, LMFT, Dr. Sue Tonkins, and St.Clair. Photo by Julie M. Anderson Holburn

Originally published on NewsBreak, November 2024. Updated.

In this fourth installment of the investigative series on Jessica St. Clair and her role in the Orange County family court system, we focus on the harrowing experiences of Joana Castro and her children. Their story exposes how racial bias, language barriers, and court-appointed misconduct shattered a vulnerable family—and how, despite the harm inflicted, they continue to fight for healing and justice.

For essential context, I strongly encourage readers to explore the previous articles in this series.

Related articles:

These articles provide a foundation for understanding the complexities of the issues surrounding Jessica St. Clair, including her disputed credentials, her role in key family law cases, her professional associations, and her significant influence over family court judges operating within a deeply flawed system.

St. Clair utilized controversial tactics, including forced separations and reunification therapy, which were showcased during a webinar hosted by the Orange County Bar Association (see article: “OC Bar Association says ‘I just want to protect my children’ means ‘I just want to screw my ex’”). Prominent family court figures, including Nicole Schmidt, CFLS (Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara, LLP), Kristen Przeklasa, Esq. (OC Child & Family Formation Law Group, LLP), Dr. Linda Grossman (The Center for Positive Solutions), Dr. Sue Tonkins (Creative Custody Solutions), and Stacey White Kinney, MS, LMFT, were featured. None responded to requests for comment.

Jessica St. Clair comment in Orange Coast Magazine, December 1990. Photo by Julie M. Anderson Holburn.

Racial Discrimination and Abuse of Power

Jessica St. Clair’s actions not only highlight professional misconduct but also reveal troubling biases. Notably, prior to becoming a court-appointed family court professional, St. Clair worked as a translator—fluent in Spanish—which makes later accusations of mocking or demeaning non-native English speakers, like Joana Castro, particularly egregious and hypocritical. A 1990 Orange Coast Magazine profile quoted her discussing systemic racial inequities:

"A Mexican friend was recently jailed, mistakenly. He got lost in the legal system for over three days. Only when I used my position with the court was he finally released. I hate to say it, but his whole experience looked like racial discrimination to me."
— Jessica St. Clair, Orange Coast Magazine, 1990

Although this quote appears to express concern about racial discrimination, St. Clair’s later conduct tells a different story. Survivors and professionals describe her as perpetuating the very inequities she once condemned—particularly in cases involving Spanish-speaking litigants, vulnerable families of color, and survivors of abuse.

Kate Schreurs, attorney for Joana, letter to Jessica St. Clair, May 2009. Photo by Julie M. Anderson-Holburn.

Joana Castro: A System That Failed to Protect

Joana Castro’s early life was shaped by abuse. At 13, her mother allowed a 23-year-old man to sexually abuse her. By 14, Joana was forced to live with him. At 15, she became his wife and the mother of their first child. The relationship, abusive from the start and marked by years of physical and emotional violence, led Joana to seek help from the Orange County family court system in 2008.

Jessica St. Clair was assigned to Joana’s case as a court-appointed professional. Joana, who spoke little English at the time, initially felt hopeful that St. Clair could help her escape the cycle of abuse.

“I thought, thank goodness, finally I am going to get some help and protection,” Joana recalled.

Her hope quickly turned to despair. St. Clair, fluent in Spanish from her previous work as a translator, chose to communicate with Joana only in English. This language barrier, combined with St. Clair’s condescending demeanor, left Joana feeling humiliated. Joana was unaware St. Clair was bilingual.

“She leaned toward me, said mean things, acted like she didn’t understand me, and made me feel like I wasn’t worth her time. She embarrassed me about my broken English to the point of tears—and she seemed to enjoy it.”
— Joana Castro

This treatment reflected more than personal disdain—it mirrored broader systemic cultural bias often faced by non-native English speakers in the courtroom.

Joana confided in St. Clair about the years of abuse she had endured, including two domestic violence charges filed against her ex-husband, believing it would be reflected in the court report. Instead, St. Clair’s report praised Joana’s abuser, focusing on his career and home while omitting Joana’s harrowing experiences. When Joana expressed hesitation about signing the document, St. Clair reportedly threatened her.

The judge ultimately awarded custody to Joana’s abuser, relying heavily on St. Clair’s 2009 report. Joana was devastated.

“Jessica St. Clair destroyed my family and my life.”
— Joana Castro, recalling how the experience drove her into a deep depression

Generational Trauma: A Daughter’s Perspective

Joana’s eldest daughter, referred to here as Adult Child G, is now 32 and works as a dental assistant. She described the lasting impact of St. Clair’s involvement on their family.

“That part of my life was so traumatic because of St. Clair,” Adult Child G said. “Neither of my parents were fit to parent us, but Jessica St. Clair didn’t do anything to help. She could have pointed them to resources or parenting classes, but she didn’t.”

Adult Child G went on to express her confusion about St. Clair’s role in their case: “I don’t know what St. Clair’s job was — but she did not do what was in our best interest, for sure. If St. Clair had done her job, counseled them, or given them resources, she could have made recommendations for my parents to learn how to communicate better and take parenting classes. But she didn’t do any of that.”

After custody was granted to her father, Adult Child G was forced to take on the role of a parent to her siblings. “I should have been allowed to be a kid,” she said. The situation deeply affected her mother, who spiraled into depression and homelessness.

“We did witness abuse by our dad. It seemed to lessen a bit at one point, but then my dad was arrested for domestic violence. Why wasn’t my mom protected?” Adult Child G asked, voicing a lingering question about her mother’s safety and well-being.

“My siblings thought my mom gave us up, but we later learned she was forced out of our lives by St. Clair’s actions,” she explained.

Despite these challenges, Joana took a significant step toward reclaiming her role as a parent years later. In 2019, she gained custody of her younger daughter’s child, who was just a year old. Through the process, Joana completed parenting classes and worked hard to create a stable environment. This experience not only allowed her to fully adopt her grandchild but also gave her the tools to become a better parent.

“I’m so proud of my mom. I wish she had this support and knowledge when we were younger—our lives would have been so different. But seeing her now gives me hope, and we’re working together on healing as a family.” — Adult Child G

The youngest sibling, now 29 and Joana’s daughter as well, continues to face significant mental health and trust issues stemming from her experiences with Jessica St. Clair, whose recommendations led to her placement in the sole custody of her father.

“She used my mom’s childhood trauma against her,” Adult Child G said. “That was so wrong. My mom needed support and help, not judgment.”

“Jessica St. Clair caused so much trauma and pain—she destroyed our family. She lied and covered up abuse. She’s a heartless person.”
— Adult Child G

Joana and her children are not alone. Their story is one of many in a county—and a country—where the family court system too often protects abusers and punishes protective parents.

(More to follow in Part Five.)

The time for action is now. Justice and protection for our children must not remain distant ideals—they must become lived realities.

This ongoing investigative series on the Orange County family court crisis seeks to bring national attention to systemic failures and advocate for urgent reform and accountability. Lawmakers, the media, and the public must come together to demand justice for families and protection for children.

Are you committed to protecting American children and restoring integrity to our legal system?

Contact your legislative representatives. Speak out. Reach out to media outlets. And vote.

Whistleblowers and victims of family court, CPS, probate court, or foster care corruption anywhere in the U.S.—please contact this reporter at juliea005@proton.me.

Together, we can ignite a national movement and create lasting change.

Julie M. Anderson-Holburn is a California-based investigative journalist reporting on family court corruption, judicial abuse, and systemic failures. Her work is published on NewsBreak, Substack, and The Family Court Circus, and has been featured by the Center for Judicial Excellence and National Safe Parents. Julie believes that exposing the truth is the first step toward meaningful reform.

This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Thank you.