The US family justice system is supposed to act in the best interest of the child. We all know that, we divorced fathers especially, whose rights to see our children are often sacrificed in its name. Fortunately, family justice is here to remind us that our miserable interests are to be trumped for this greater cause.
Reading about the State of Connecticut’s family court reforms in the baking, one is not certain any more that family courts are that sure about whether they are acting in the best interest of the child; or rather, there is some awareness that this might not necessarily happen. As divorces are becoming more litigious, custody dockets a judge has to handle pile up, and children suffer from prolonged custody battles.
The physical-abuse trial I had to go through after my divorce was a continuation of a custody battle by other means. I had a law guardian who did do zip to protect the interests of my children or mine. She was here only to serve as the good conscience of family justice system: when your case moves at a agonizingly slow pace like my trial (which lasted six years and half), the presence of a law guardian means that the interests of children are nominally protected, even though de facto they are not.
In Connecticut, they happen to have guardians ad litem. I went to the website of one, and frankly, I have trouble understanding the difference with law guardians. Guardians ad litem are “self-described” mediators in chief, lawyers with shrinks’ talents that pretend to have a special gift in understanding the human soul and for parenting. In Connecticut, the services of these folks might be quite pricey. Guardians ad litem bill by the hours, and face no cap. Mark Sargent, an attorney involved in pushing reforms to the Connecticut family court system, spent $130,000 in GAL(Guardian At Litem) fees. Some parents empty their retirement account to pay their bill. In Connecticut, family justice provides another opportunity, besides serious health problems, to be faced with financial ruin.
My homeland does not have it all. Yet it has something I came to value as I reflected on the problems I had with Manhattan family court: a conception of justice that transcends a contract between parties. In the French criminal justice system, justice is supposed to be represented, and its interests are to be defended, by an investigating judge, who investigates a case before a judge rules about it. There are the parties, and there is justice which is supposed to be served by the state.
Connecticut’s family justice does not need one more substratum of mediators, the guardians ad litem, supposedly acting on behalf of the best interest of the child stuff and taking their cut until a judge hears the final mediators of a custody case. What is needed are impartial law guardians, with real investigative power, payed by the State, speeding up the process and acting in the best interest of justice. More surely than not, they may act in the best interest of the child.
I am replying from Wisconsin. My on going divorce has every element that is wrong with our family court system. I read you writings while desperately seeking help for my own problems. My case is significant. After my wife persistently accused my attorney of knowing her family and looking out for her interest, I not only find out he knew and represented her father,in the 10 months he represented me he allowed her to remove and dispose of 420,000 in cash. I obviously terminated him after paying him 4200 ,all the money I had.
The guardian he recommended turned on me awswell because I filed a grieveance with the office of lawyer regulation. I sent them undeniable evidence my attorney was intentionally affecting my divorce, caused me to be criminalized and frauded me. I have since started to save again for a new attorney. This guy not only violated my rights he denied them. I am disabled and have taken care of my children since 2005 and now face loosing them. Mom spent all of her free time passed out on ambien for the last 6 years and after I had enough and gave her an ultimatum to give our children the attention they needed or we were moving to our second home I found myself being forced from my home, robbed,being extorted and frauded with my own attorneys help. I am trying hard to replace my attorney and have 2200 saved.
Could not agree more. LG’s should be required to complete some level of child psychology courses, social work themselves and should be forced to collaborate with a therapist. After all they are simply lawyers. Trained to argue the law that’s it. They should also have minimum contact with the kids and if that isn’t met a new one can be assigned. LG’s should be removed by either. Party and in the cases of a paramour- a paramour must be forced to submit to a psych and crim background check at their own expense. Additionally if a paramour moves into a household receiving support their income should count. The whole point of support is to even out resources because one parent needs help from the other. If a. Paramour moves in they need less help. Otherwise the payer ends up paying to support their lifestyle
Thank you for the reply,since posting my comment ive researched the people and history of those involved in my case. What ive found is alarming. To start with im going to post a link. Im not the only victim and this gives everyone a better idea of what has been going on in this area aswell as a neighboring county.
3 well educated persons all said the samething.
What was done to my children and I is highly illegal. My ability to prove such explains how i went from being threatened to loose my custody and possessions too my case doing a 180.
I have undeniable proof of among several things a pattern of practice violation that rises above the level of a RICO Act violation according to all 3 persons,one of which was the second attorney i hired who refused to address the crimes and violations against me.
It took everyone involved to pull this type of fraud that also includes several criminal charges that were dismissed.
One of which i spent 18 months in which my public defender threatened if i didnt plead it would never end,she refused to defend me and knew they had no cause of action. The charges were dismissed due to no probable cause.
Ive lived under threat for 4 years and am ready to publicly expose and pursue the crimes against my children and I.
Following contacting the State of Wisconsin Prosecutors Office last year I was threatened within 2 days and served with a court notice falsely accused of child abuse,while being threatened to shut my mouth. For the 3rd time it was dropped.
My case is a posterchild for corruption and legal abuse. So much so, i havent been told i dont have a case,quite the opposite, all 3 persons said i have a solid case but refuse to represent out of fear of retaliation because of what it exposes and those it exposes. One of these person stated the evidence I have is a holy grail and rarely proven but nessecairy to prove.
Below is one of many links.