Kelly Rutherford -- Judge Was Cruel and Uncaring to 'Arrest' My Children

Kelly Rutherford is ripping into the judge she says effectively "arrested" her children, and sent them back to their father ... who she claims lied to the court to get his way.

Rutherford says Judge Ellen Gesmer's ruling to send the kids back to Daniel Giersch was "shocking, illegal, and abusive to my children." She adds that Gesmer "lacked sufficient knowledge of the law, or didn't care that she was violating the law."

She insists the ruling violates the Constitution because the children are U.S. citizens.

Rutherford also says her ex lied so he could get an emergency order. She says Giersch told the court he didn't know where Kelly and the kids were, but she says the truth is ... he Skyped with the kids several times, and always knew they were safe.

She saved her last jab for Gesmer, saying ... "She has to live with herself, and if she has a conscience, I suspect she will not sleep well, ever again."