Posted on 03/14/2011 2:04:19 PM PDT by libertycause13
The most heart-wrenching issues I've written about involved the state's dependency court and foster-care systems. Officials have the power to remove children from their family homes and to place them in the care of strangers, yet the system that exercises these vast powers is veiled in secrecy and, therefore, off-limits to serious news coverage and oversight.
Fortunately, Assembly Bill 73, by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, offers hope of fixing that system with a simple but time-tested approach: sunshine. His new legislation would make hearings in dependency court presumptively open, meaning that the public and media could cover the goings-on unless a judge finds good reason to close the proceedings.
Obviously, we all want children removed from abusive and dangerous situations, but government officials don't always get it right. Many times, families are torn asunder based on unproven allegations and hearsay. The parents have no real standing in the court system and no real rights. The overburdened court system makes quick decisions that involve the fate of children and their families. Parents spend their life's savings hiring attorneys and battling this impenetrable system.
(Excerpt) Read more at freedompolitics.com ...
This does not go far enough, family court should be eliminated entirely. Everyone should have the right to trail by jury and that would include divorces, custody hearings, everything! Anybody that has every been through family court knows what an abomination it is. Granted regular court needs some fixing as well but it is far and above better than family court.
I agree, too many times one judge with all their biases are playing God.
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