If you think that the United States is the only place where they have issues with Family Courts and Guardians ad litem - think again. Canada, The United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. This story comes to us from the emerald island. The article points out - any person can claim to be a guardian ad litem; that the system is ‘chaotic’ and a ‘free for all’. Nothing new here for those who have had the mis-fortune of a malpracticed Guardian ad litem. Surprisingly reform is being called for by an agency that has 32 Guardians ad litem working.
Irish Examiner
Nine firms and individuals acting as guardians to children in childcare court proceedings have received sums over €200,000 each from the Child and Family Agency this year.
Figures released by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, show that, to the end of November this year, €6.76m has been paid to guardian ad litems — court appointees who act as independent voices for children in family law cases.
The 2014 figure compares to guardian ad litems receiving €7.18m in 2013.
In response to a freedom of information request, the figures show the largest provider or guardian ad litems services in the country, Barnardos-Beacon, this year received just over €3m for the service it provides.
Full story: Irish Examiner
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Nevada - State panel hires 2 experts to guide child welfare reforms
Another "Blue Ribbon Panel" has been put together to figure out what is wrong with the Family Court system. There is a very strong chance that there are no consumers on this panel to help with coming up with a possible solution. The solution that this panel will come up with will only make things worse for those within the system.
Las Vegas Review Journal
The state blue ribbon committee created to spearhead improvements to Clark County child welfare and the court system has added two additional experts to guide its work before the 2015 Legislature begins.
The state has found money to bring on board national expert Sophia Gatowski to help shape the committee’s recommendations. Consultant Stephen Rubin, a retired Arizona judge, also has been invited to work with the committee.
“This is a step, I believe, in the right direction,” Nevada Supreme Court Justice Nancy Saitta said Tuesday during the committee’s second meeting in Las Vegas.
The committee, appointed by Saitta, outlined some of its preliminary objectives, which include having one family work with the same judge to provide consistency as the case is resolved. The panel also wants more professional development for Family Services workers in following policy and procedure and suggested a public campaign informing the community about what foster care is and seeking foster parent volunteers.
The committee will meet a third time at 1 p.m. on Jan. 15, before the Legislature convenes Feb. 4.
Rubin said Gatowski will produce a report for the committee, which she will start writing after the January meeting. The retired judge will assist her in writing the report, which could go to the Legislature and might be made public.
Full story: Las Vegas Review Journal
Las Vegas Review Journal
The state blue ribbon committee created to spearhead improvements to Clark County child welfare and the court system has added two additional experts to guide its work before the 2015 Legislature begins.
The state has found money to bring on board national expert Sophia Gatowski to help shape the committee’s recommendations. Consultant Stephen Rubin, a retired Arizona judge, also has been invited to work with the committee.
“This is a step, I believe, in the right direction,” Nevada Supreme Court Justice Nancy Saitta said Tuesday during the committee’s second meeting in Las Vegas.
The committee, appointed by Saitta, outlined some of its preliminary objectives, which include having one family work with the same judge to provide consistency as the case is resolved. The panel also wants more professional development for Family Services workers in following policy and procedure and suggested a public campaign informing the community about what foster care is and seeking foster parent volunteers.
The committee will meet a third time at 1 p.m. on Jan. 15, before the Legislature convenes Feb. 4.
Rubin said Gatowski will produce a report for the committee, which she will start writing after the January meeting. The retired judge will assist her in writing the report, which could go to the Legislature and might be made public.
Full story: Las Vegas Review Journal
Divorce Corp - Backdoor Deals and Cozy Relationships between GALs and Judges
Director Joe Sorge (DivorceCorp) interviews Maine psychiatrist and director of Maine Guardian Ad Litem Alert, Jerry Collins. They discuss the backdoor deals and cozy relationships between the guardian ad litems (GALs) and other family court professionals. Families are forced to pay outrageous fees and often get little for their money.
Learn how Guardians ad litem demand excessive fees and are essentially unregulated in their practice. It is another shocking example of the corrupt practices in US family courts.
DivorceCorp - Family Law Report: Jerry Collins Interview Part1
If you would like more information and become involved email us at NationalGALalert@gmail.com or find us on Facebook.
Learn how Guardians ad litem demand excessive fees and are essentially unregulated in their practice. It is another shocking example of the corrupt practices in US family courts.
DivorceCorp - Family Law Report: Jerry Collins Interview Part1
If you would like more information and become involved email us at NationalGALalert@gmail.com or find us on Facebook.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Indiana - This Dad Went To Prison For Trashing A Judge On His Blog, And He's Still Trying To Clear His Name
When my divorce started and the Guardian ad litem had started to show her intentions I remember coming across a posting on Dan Brewington. He is in the news again after serving 2.5 years in prison because of a free speech dispute.
Yahoo! News
The Supreme Court recently heard a free speech dispute over a 27-year-old's angry Facebook rants, and now another guy is asking the justices to weigh in on whether his vitriolic blog posts deserve First Amendment protection.
That blogger, Dan Brewington, filed a petition in October asking the Supreme Court to overturn his conviction of violating an Indiana law against "intimidation" for writing highly unflattering blog posts about the judge who sided against him in a custody battle.
Perhaps the worst thing in those blog posts was the repeated claim that Judge James D. Humphrey was a "child abuser," and here is how Brewington justified that claim to me: "He was taking away children from capable parents."
Brewington, now 41, already served two and a half years in prison for allegedly communicating threats to Humphrey. While he's already done his time, on Jan. 9 the Supreme Court will consider whether to hear his case and potentially overturn his conviction and clear his name.
"I've never been in trouble. I'm a friendly guy. I'm known around the neighborhood for volunteering," Brewington, who does computer-aided design from home, told me over the phone. "I don't know why they spent that much time coming after me."
Full story: Yahoo! News
Related news:
Dan's Adventures in Taking on the Family Courts
2013-02-26 USA Today - Indiana high court asked to review jailed blogger case
2013-09-25 TIL - Brewington case focuses First Amendment attention on Indiana
2014-08-07 EC 99.3 - Ind. Supreme Court Won’t Rehear Brewington Appeal
Yahoo! News
The Supreme Court recently heard a free speech dispute over a 27-year-old's angry Facebook rants, and now another guy is asking the justices to weigh in on whether his vitriolic blog posts deserve First Amendment protection.
That blogger, Dan Brewington, filed a petition in October asking the Supreme Court to overturn his conviction of violating an Indiana law against "intimidation" for writing highly unflattering blog posts about the judge who sided against him in a custody battle.
Perhaps the worst thing in those blog posts was the repeated claim that Judge James D. Humphrey was a "child abuser," and here is how Brewington justified that claim to me: "He was taking away children from capable parents."
Brewington, now 41, already served two and a half years in prison for allegedly communicating threats to Humphrey. While he's already done his time, on Jan. 9 the Supreme Court will consider whether to hear his case and potentially overturn his conviction and clear his name.
"I've never been in trouble. I'm a friendly guy. I'm known around the neighborhood for volunteering," Brewington, who does computer-aided design from home, told me over the phone. "I don't know why they spent that much time coming after me."
Full story: Yahoo! News
Related news:
Dan's Adventures in Taking on the Family Courts
2013-02-26 USA Today - Indiana high court asked to review jailed blogger case
2013-09-25 TIL - Brewington case focuses First Amendment attention on Indiana
2014-08-07 EC 99.3 - Ind. Supreme Court Won’t Rehear Brewington Appeal
Friday, December 12, 2014
Nevada - Ex-judge Jones formally disbarred
Has anyone ever seen a Family Court Judge get removed from the bench?
Las Vegas Review Journal
The Nevada Supreme Court has officially disbarred former Family Court Judge Steven Jones.
All seven justices signed the order Dec. 5.
In September, Jones informed the State Bar of Nevada that he was giving up his law license after he pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a $2.6 million investment scheme.
As part of his plea agreement with the government, Jones also resigned from the Family Court bench. He did not seek reelection this year.
Full story: Las Vegas Review Journal
Related stories:
2014-05-02 LVRJ - Embattled Family Court Judge Steven Jones headed back to public payroll
2014-12-09 NBC3 - Former Family Court judge disbarred, awaits fraud sentence
Las Vegas Review Journal
The Nevada Supreme Court has officially disbarred former Family Court Judge Steven Jones.
All seven justices signed the order Dec. 5.
In September, Jones informed the State Bar of Nevada that he was giving up his law license after he pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a $2.6 million investment scheme.
As part of his plea agreement with the government, Jones also resigned from the Family Court bench. He did not seek reelection this year.
Full story: Las Vegas Review Journal
Related stories:
2014-05-02 LVRJ - Embattled Family Court Judge Steven Jones headed back to public payroll
2014-12-09 NBC3 - Former Family Court judge disbarred, awaits fraud sentence
Friday, December 5, 2014
Georgia - What did judges know about guardian ad litem issues?
This should not come as a surprise that judges - people whom many of us were taught to show respect for the position they hold. Have complaints filed against them. In Georgia - a state that has huge problems with their family courts - we have a situation where a judge (Daniel Craig) is being investigated
AUGUSTA, GA - Fox 6 WBRC
We're following up on complaints against guardians ad litem in the Augusta Judicial Circuit, including those made against former magistrate judge Doug Nelson and longtime guardian Janet Weinberger.
We now know the Judicial Qualifications Committee is investigating what superior court judge Daniel Craig may have know about complaints against Nelson. The JQC annual report said in 2013, 75% of complaints against Georgia judges were rejected. But a letter from the JQC shows they are looking into these cases.
After hearing the JQC was getting involved – we wanted to know what the superior court judges who appoint and control these guardians know about the complaints?
Judge Daniel Craig presided over multiple cases in which mothers revealed to WFXG accusations that Doug Nelson was inappropriate with them while working on their cases.
Nelson has denied all allegations of wrong-doing.
Full story: Fox 6 WBRC
AUGUSTA, GA - Fox 6 WBRC
We're following up on complaints against guardians ad litem in the Augusta Judicial Circuit, including those made against former magistrate judge Doug Nelson and longtime guardian Janet Weinberger.
We now know the Judicial Qualifications Committee is investigating what superior court judge Daniel Craig may have know about complaints against Nelson. The JQC annual report said in 2013, 75% of complaints against Georgia judges were rejected. But a letter from the JQC shows they are looking into these cases.
After hearing the JQC was getting involved – we wanted to know what the superior court judges who appoint and control these guardians know about the complaints?
Judge Daniel Craig presided over multiple cases in which mothers revealed to WFXG accusations that Doug Nelson was inappropriate with them while working on their cases.
Nelson has denied all allegations of wrong-doing.
Full story: Fox 6 WBRC
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