The Diocesan Tribunal has been on it for well over a year now, but they're so jammed up with Nullity Petitions, they told her frankly they are "triaging" the cases and have made a priority of expediting the ones that are a whole lot more plan and simple (like the husband hadn't told his bride he already had another wife in Thailand.)
In essence, the Tribunal has admitted they cannot provide for Sally's family's spiritual well-being because of the factors of time, complication and paperwork.
Does Sally have a known history of lying, fraud, confabulation, a dissipated life, any record of wrongdoing whatsoever? According to those who know her best --- her present husband, parents, teachers, employer, friends --- No.
Sally does have the one receipt which shows her ex was in trouble with the police about military weaponry he had appropriated for personal use. I think it is reasonable to conclude she is telling the truth, and a grave injustice to keep her shackled canonically to a sociopath. Plus, there is zero chance she and the ex would ever "reconcile" after 20 years and after her marriage to her present husband.
And I think it's reasonable in a few, well-defined cases, to entrust the Petition to the pastor, who actually knows Sally and her husband and their child personally, and is the one responsible for their pastoral care.
My opinion, free to all comers and worth every penny!
Sad circumstances, for sure, but every legal proceeding has to follow its due course. The Church has established safeguards to protect the Sacrament of Marriage. It’s a difficult process because it’s meant to be so. “Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.”
The fact remains that Sally was previously married, of her own free will. Unfortunately, although it didn’t work out, she is still responsible for her decision. To set up the procedure that you are recommending would lead to abuse of the process. Clergy such as Cardinal Kasper would be handing out annulments with no concern for the facts, and people would go priest shopping to gain the desired outcome. There are unfortunately priests who lack integrity (e.g. my parish priest was a raging pervert who molested so many boys he was eventually laicized). The potential for corruption would be exacerbated if the tribunal process were to be undermined by special exceptions.