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IPFS News Link • Vaccines and Vaccinations

Mother claims Chicago judge stripped her of custody of her son because she will not...

• https://www.dailymail.co, By GINA MARTINEZ

A Chicago mother is filing an appeal after a judge stripped her custody rights of her son after finding out she was not vaccinated.

Rebecca Firlit told FOX 32 that Cook County Judge James Shapiro blindsided her when he stripped her of custody of her 11-year-old son during a child support hearing because she has not gotten her COVID-19 vaccination shot.

'I miss my son more than anything. It's been very difficult. I haven't seen him since August 10th,' Firlit said tearing up. 

She says he made the decision during an August 10 court hearing via Zoom along with her ex-husband who she currently splits custody of her son with after divorcing seven years ago.   

Firlit told FOX 32 that judge Shapiro asked her about her vaccination status and she told him she had not gotten the COVID-19 vaccine because she has had bad reactions to vaccines in the past, which led to Shapiro's ruling that Firlit relinquish all of her parenting time with her son until she gets vaccinated.

Firlit is currently appealing the court order, saying the judge does not have the right to take away her parenting rights just because she's not vaccinated and that he is placing his beliefs on to her.  

'It had nothing to do with what we were talking about. He was placing his views on me. And taking my son away from me,' Firlit said.

A spokesperson for Chief Judge Tim Evans and Judge Shapiro told FOX 32 they couldn't comment on the ruling because of the ongoing nature of the case and there was no set time on when the appellate court will make its decision.

In a statement, Firlit's attorney Annette Fernholz told FOX News that Shapiro's ruling caught Firlit off guard during what was supposed to be a hearing focused on child support. 


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