A judge from the Philadelphia family court is ambitiously pursuing another 10-year tenure even after 16 of his rulings were overturned, which potentially placed minors in risky environments.
Pennsylvania’s Superior Court overturned Judge Daine Grey’s decisions due to what they described as ‘harmful orders and courtroom etiquette’, according to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Approximately one in every six of Grey’s rulings that were appealed has been overturned by the Superior Court, marking the highest rate among his peers dealing with similar family court cases in Philadelphia.
Judge Grey told the Daily Mail out of his ten years in this field, and over a thousand cases he has taken on, about 16 were overturned.
One of those cases involved a mother in a mental health crisis, threatening to kill herself and her four-year-old daughter, the Inquirer reported.
The mother in question had a previous record of abusing another child, who now resides with his father. Additionally, she was once committed to a psychiatric facility after an incident of family violence.
The Philadelphia Department of Human Services took custody of the girl, initially removing her from her mother’s care while suggesting long-term placement with the father.
However, in May 2024, Grey decided to return the four-year-old to her mother—without considering evidence about the mother’s mental health stabilization.
He told the outlet his final conclusion derived from evidence only about the father, that was provided by DHS.
Judge Daine Grey received the overturned rulings by Pennsylvania ’s Superior Court because of his dangerous orders and courtroom etiquette
The Philadelphia family court judge is gunning for another 10-year term despite his 16 overturned rulings
The Family Court of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
‘There was nothing presented with regard to mom,’ he said to the Inquirer.
‘It seems as though the Superior Court had more information than I did.’
The appeals court opinion refuted his statement, saying the mother’s mental health issues were explicitly detailed and that it was his job to conduct a thorough review before coming to a conclusion.
He later reviewed two other child abuse cases that were ultimately overturned by the superior court.
He concluded in both that a rare genetic disorder could be why an infants’ bones were broken, despite medical expertise that contrasted this.
Grey told the Inquirer he relied on the evidence and experts in each case.
The Superior Court Judges even wrote in one reversal that they were ‘appalled’ by his decision to return a neglected baby back to its dangerous home.
‘We are appalled by the trial court’s willingness to give full physical and legal custody of a less than six month-old infant to a Mother who had never cared for Child, [and] had not visited the Child regularly,’ the Superior Court wrote in January 2025.
The mother was already deemed unsuitable and disclaimed interest in caring for the child, they added.
Despite acknowledging that he has made several errors in past cases, Grey insisted that reversals are only a small part of the volume of cases he’s reviewed.
‘The cases in between matter,’ he said. ‘You can’t get a real flavor of what’s going on if you don’t know what’s happening in between.’
The Philadelphia Bar Associated did not recommend Grey for the next 10-year term
Caseworkers also told the Inquirer they felt like they ‘were walking on eggshells’ every time they stepped in his ‘hostile’ courtroom.
Gabriel Li, secretary-treasurer of AFSCME Local 2187 — the union that represents DHS employees — told the Inquirer: ‘[Grey is] very erratic in the courtroom.’
Meanwhile, other anonymous sources described Grey’s courtroom presence as ‘intense,’ ‘traumatic,’ and ‘almost abusive.’
Grey told the outlet that while he doesn’t raise his voice, he believes an emotional response is justified at times.
‘I’ve yelled at social workers for not doing their job and not knowing what’s going on,’ he said.
‘I’ve yelled at attorneys for not knowing what’s going on or being prepared or making a recommendation for their client, when it’s clear that something has to be done. I’ve yelled at parents for not doing what they need to do to properly parent. I’ve tried to connect with people.’
Grey also told the Daily Mail if he is hard on someone, it is because he cares.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Grey said ‘The Philadelphia Inquirer article is unfair and completely one-sided.’
He was elected in 2015 as judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania.
The Philadelphia Bar Associated did not recommend him for the next 10-year term.
