Unusual actions and rulings of Judges Karen Asphaug and David Knutson in tangled Rucki family cases raise further doubts about the fairness of their rulings. WASHINGTON, January 23, 2017 — The judges in Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal and family court case may have previously fixed cases for her ex-husband, raising further doubts about the fairness of their rulings. Background On … [Read more...]

California lawmakers will weigh whether family courts should allow children as young as 10 to testify before judges regarding parent custody or visitation rights. A bill filed by state Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino) would lower the current threshold from age 14 to enable more children to express their wishes in court, some of whom she said could find themselves in life-threatening … [Read more...]

SB 170 Would Allow Children 10 and Older to Testify in Court Monday, January 23, 2017 SACRAMENTO – Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) today introduced important legislation to allow a child who is 10 years of age or older to address the court regarding their own custody or visitation, if the child wishes to do so. Co-sponsored by the California Protective Parents Association … [Read more...]

Reforms aim to end presumption that a father must have contact with a child when there is evidence of domestic abuse Senior judges are taking steps to end the presumption that a father must have contact with a child where there is evidence of domestic abuse that would put the child or mother at risk. The reforms are to be introduced in the family courts after campaigning by the charity … [Read more...]

The Stanford rape case rocked the public's confidence in the fairness of the courts, ignited activist groups, and divided the legal and academic communities across the country. Irate California legislators passed a bill to establish a minimum sentence of three years for the sexual assault of an unconscious person, and ordered an audit of the state judicial oversight agency−the Commission on … [Read more...]