A Philadelphia public defender sued for allegedly conspiring with officials to have a couple’s child removed from their home without allowing them to present a defense in court has claimed in court papers that the judge was the problem.

In response to a lawsuit against her, Patrice Langenbach of the Defender Association of Philadelphia said in preliminary objections filed Monday that former Philadelphia Family Court Judge Lyris Younge ultimately made the final decision to send plaintiff N.W.M. to foster care. Langenbach represented the child in the matter.