ATTORNEY DEBORAH STEVENSON: JUVENILE COURTS MUST BE OPEN!

ACLU REPORTS ON GOV. MALLOY'S PROPOSAL TO EXTEND JURISDICTION OF JUVENILE SYSTEM UNTIL THE AGE OF 20--WHAT AN ECONOMIC BOON FOR THE CT JUDICIAL BRANCH!

The following statements were issued after Connecticut’s Governor announced he would work with leaders to consider making the Constitution State the first in the nation to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction through 20-years-old.

- See more at: 

http://www.acluct.org/updates/national-experts-say-raise-the-age-of-juvenile-jurisdiction/#sthash.CEVPrQnc.dpuf

REPORTING FOR THE CT LAW TRIBUNE, ISAAC AVILUCEA PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON THE FOY CASE!

Isaac Avilucea reports as follows:

"On March 20, 2014, state child welfare officials took three young children from the Simsbury home of two attorneys who were in the midst of a bitter divorce.

The Department of Children and Families had obtained an order of temporary custody even though there was no conclusive evidence that either parent had abused the youngsters, according to court documents. Now, more than a year later, the children remain in foster care.

That's the bare-bones outline of an unusual case working its way through the state's court system. It would, like most custody battles, be playing out in private but for a document erroneously placed on a public portion of the state Judicial Branch website last October..."

Read more: 

http://www.ctlawtribune.com/id=1202724676440/Custody-Case-Offers-Rare-View-of-Usually-Secret-Proceedings#ixzz3YXmi10Iy

INTRODUCED BY SEN. JOE MARKLEY: PROPOSED BILL NO. 641, TO OPEN JUVENILE COURTS TO THE PUBLIC!

General Assembly		Proposed Bill No. 641
January Session, 2015		LCO No. 2274
		*02274*
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
SEN. MARKLEY, 16th Dist.

AN ACT CONCERNING JUVENILE COURTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

That chapter 815t of the general statutes be amended to require that juvenile courts be open to the public.

Statement of Purpose:
To allow open courts in juvenile matters.

NORM PATTIS MAKES COGENT REMARKS ON CUSTODY PROCEEDINGS IN JUVENILE COURT!

NORM PATTIS ASKS:

"Whose Best Interest Served in Child Custody Cases?

There are secret courts operating in our midst, and I am not referring to those tribunals whose focus is national security. I’m talking about something more basic and closer to home. I’m talking about our juvenile courts, where the fate of children is sometimes determined.

Consider the case of Jane Doe and John Doe, two Connecticut parents stuck in Kafkaesque proceedings. They are in the midst of a divorce. They have three children. Those children are now in foster care, and it is not clear when the parents will again have the right to raise them as they see fit. In fact, it is not even clear when the father will even get to see his children again."

For the full content of this article, please click on the link below:


http://www.pattisblog.com/index.php?article=Whose_Best_Interest_Served_in_Child_Custody_Cases__6683