'Operating in the dark': How much detail courts get in child protection cases depends on where you live

Little is revealed at the outset of Manitoba child protection cases about why kids are taken into care, a recent CBC investigation into child protection court found — but lawyers in two other provinces say that's not the case where they practise.

But they also said that they're up against many of the same challenges those working on CFS cases in Manitoba face: court delays, heavy caseloads and a system that isn't designed to deal with the complicated nature of families.

More >> 'Operating in the dark': How much detail courts get in child protection cases depends on where you live

Family cases 'the poor relation' of justice system

Family law cases are the "the poor relation" in the justice system with an urgent need for more district court judges.

The latest batch of reports from the Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP) has also highlighted a lack of joined-up services for vulnerable parents and a shortage of mental health supports for adolescents.

More >> Family cases 'the poor relation' of justice system

Family courts: Judges 'dealing directly' with rowing parents

Sir Andrew McFarlane said many hearings could be avoided, and went on to call for a "public education programme" on how to be a parent after splitting up.

It comes as a report says more parents are representing themselves because they do not qualify for legal aid.

More >> Family courts: Judges 'dealing directly' with rowing parents

Family court judges fear they are at growing risk of knife attacks and assaults from parents who are angry at losing their children

Senior judges warned yesterday of a growing risk of knife attacks and violence by parents in the family courts.

They believe that judges are increasingly vulnerable to assault or stabbing in cases in which parents are told they must lose their children.

More >> Family court judges fear they are at growing risk of knife attacks and assaults from parents who are angry at losing their children

• Emotional litigants pose security threat to family judges

NEW FAMILY TREATMENT COURT A RESOURCE FOR REUNIFICATION

Last week, a long-awaited family treatment court officially opened its doors to Flathead County families impacted by dependency and neglect cases, offering support for program-elligible parents pursuing reunification with their children who have been placed into Child Family Services.

The court, known as Family Tree, aims to provide evidence-based treatment for families impacted by parental substance use, reduce child maltreatment and provide children with services they need to be raised in a healthy environment. Funding for the court was granted by the U.S. Department of Justice in October of 2018. The department gave $600,000 to support the program for its first three years.

More >> NEW FAMILY TREATMENT COURT A RESOURCE FOR REUNIFICATION

Wayne County family court judge accused of helping cover up child abuse of own grandson

A Wayne County family court judge is being accused of helping her son cover up abuse of her grandson - but she says none of it's true.

Tracy Green is a judge at the Wayne County Family Court. Her job is to determine whether children are being abused and to protect them. Her grandson says she not only ignored how her son - who is his father - on beat his kids, he says she covered it up.

More >> Wayne County family court judge accused of helping cover up child abuse of own grandson

Mom says she was threatened by judge for breastfeeding: 'I felt discriminated against'

A North Carolina mom says a judge threatened to put her baby in the custody of Child Protective Services (CPS) because she was breastfeeding in his courtroom.

Local news affiliate WRAL reports that new mom Danielle Bell of Clayton, N.C., appeared in a Johnston County courtroom last week for a case involving her traffic tickets. While she waited to be called, she sat in the back of the courtroom and nursed her 3-month-old daughter, Penelope, who was resting in a sling.

More >> Mom says she was threatened by judge for breastfeeding: 'I felt discriminated against'

Is it legal? Florida mom jailed after Facebook post

8 On Your Side is investigating after a Facebook post landed a mother of three in the Pasco County jail.

The incident stemmed from an ongoing family court case involving a child.

Circuit Judge Lauralee Westine sentenced the woman, who was not a party to the case, to five months for violating court orders.

More >> Is it legal? Florida mom jailed after Facebook post

Judge wrong to exclude mum from hearing to have children removed, Court of Appeal rules

A judge was wrong to exclude a mother from an emergency legal bid to have her two young children removed, the Court of Appeal ruled today.

She was said to have been denied her right to a fair hearing by having no input in an application which resulted in an Emergency Protection Order (EPO) being granted.

More >> Judge wrong to exclude mum from hearing to have children removed, Court of Appeal rules

'There has to be more accountability': Flaws with family court can become costly and devastating

"This is not an isolated issue. It's not gender biased. It's not just Idaho. It's throughout our country," said Charlie Smith, who's been battling in Idaho's family courts for 16 years.

More >> 'There has to be more accountability': Flaws with family court can become costly and devastating

Family court secrecy lets judges get away with mistakes, senior judge says

Secrecy in family courts could be allowing judges to get away with mistakes, the most senior family judge in England and Wales has said.

Speaking at an event on Tuesday evening, Sir James Munby, president of the high court's family division, said that judges were "grotesquely overworked" and "tired" and so more likely to make errors.

More >> Family court secrecy lets judges get away with mistakes, senior judge says

She Ran Away From Foster Care. She Ended Up in Handcuffs and Leg Irons.

Nevayah still remembers the feel of the handcuffs. They were foreign to her; she had never been in trouble.

A latecomer to New York City’s foster care system, Nevayah had been signed over to the Administration for Children’s Services when she was 16. Rather than enter a group home, she told her caseworker she would prefer to live with her mother in Ohio. Eager to start school, she bought a bus ticket, made it to Cleveland and phoned the agency to let them know that she was safe.

More >> She Ran Away From Foster Care. She Ended Up in Handcuffs and Leg Irons.

Is there gender bias against men in Mississippi child custody cases? These dads say yes.

Former Hinds County Constable Jon Lewis leaned forward in his chair, tears welling in his eyes, as he discussed not having seen his two teenage children over the last two years.

“I love my kids and I want to see them,” Lewis said in an interview last week.

More >> Is there gender bias against men in Mississippi child custody cases? These dads say yes.

Judge Humke temporarily suspended pending charges for allegedly mishandling cases

Washoe County Family Court Judge David Humke was temporarily suspended after he was again accused of mishandling child support and custody cases within in his department.

Humke, who’s served on the bench for about three-and-a-half years, was suspended with pay last week pending formal charges from the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline.

More >> Judge Humke temporarily suspended pending charges for allegedly mishandling cases

Former employee files 'whistleblower' lawsuit against Judge Holderfield

Alleging unlawful workplace harassment, verbal abuse and official misconduct, former Warren Circuit Family Court Administrator Leslie Warden Carr has filed a civil lawsuit against Warren Circuit Family Court Judge Catherine Holderfield and the judicial branch of the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts.

The lawsuit, filed Nov. 2, is pursuant to Kentucky’s “Whistle Blower Act” that provides protection from reprisal or retaliation to public employees who disclose suspected violations of any laws or regulations or suspected mismanagement, waste, fraud or abuse of authority.

More >> Former employee files 'whistleblower' lawsuit against Judge Holderfield

Australia’s Family Law Courts Are Crippling Families

Family law proceedings are crippling families financially and breaking them emotionally as overburdened systems struggle to cope with a rising backlog of cases, a new book has revealed.

Simone was five-years-old when her parents separated.

More >> Australia’s Family Law Courts Are Crippling Families

Judge slams social workers who broke up family over anonymous tip-off that boy, 12, claimed his mother threatened him with a knife

Social workers broke up a family on the basis of a text message sent by a boy of 12.

The child was said to have told a friend his mother threatened him with a knife and as a result two of his siblings were taken into care.

More >> Judge slams social workers who broke up family over anonymous tip-off that boy, 12, claimed his mother threatened him with a knife

Hope for Men Falsely Accused of Abuse - Child Custody Podcast 4 of 4

Hope for Men Falsely Accused of Abuse - Child Custody Podcast 4 of 4

Munby troubled by Court of Protection cases being 'transferred up'

Desperate parents are persuading less senior judges to transfer Court of Protection cases higher to force public authorities to act - a practice that the former president of the family division finds 'deeply troubling'.

Sir James Munby, who stepped down as family law chief in July, was unable to attend last week's Legal Action Group community care law conference, where he was due to give a speech highlighting current problems from the front line. However, the Gazette has seen his speech, in which he raises the question of how far a judge can go to persuade a public body to provide certain services or make resources available.

More >> Munby troubled by Court of Protection cases being 'transferred up'

Family court judge slams social workers for losing sight of child’s best interests

A family court judge has slammed social workers at a North East local authority for losing sight of a six-year-old child’s best interests during care proceedings that went on for more than 18 months.

More >> Family court judge slams social workers for losing sight of child’s best interests