The New Hampshire Legislature recently passed HB 640 which aims to help kids avoid the hostility often present in divorce and custody cases. The bill would require that parents go through pre-court mediation and that they have a parenting plan in place to ease the effect on the children. The bill almost made it through unchanged, but a women's group succeeded in adding an amendment that would allow people to avoid custody mediation in cases involving domestic violence.

Go to Portsmouth Herald Story

**********

Connecticut Bill Becomes Law

The shared parenting bill that we spoke about in the last news digest (SB 1194) was passed by the Connecticut legislature last week has become law without the signature of the governor. In Connecticut, any bill passed, but not signed or vetoed by the governor, becomes law 15 days after the end of the legislative session.

Go to SPCC website for more details

**********

National

McElroy: Congress Should Kill VAWA

Over at ifeminists.com, Wendy McElroy argues that congress should not renew the Violence Against Women Act that is set to expire in September. The act's language defines woman as the only victims of domestic abuse, ignoring the fact that at least a quarter to one half of all victims are men, and thereby excluding any funding for male victims while helping to further bias against men in family court.

Go to McElroy Piece

**********

U.S. Supreme Court Decides Restraining Order Case

The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided in Gonzales v. New Castle that domestic restraining orders do not automatically prompt certain constitutional rights to government protection against private individuals. Had the 7-2 decision gone the other way, it may well have been bad news for those who have been wrongly accused of domestic abuse. Our hope is that this decision marks a beginning to a return to the proper balance between the legitimate need for the protection of women and men in danger versus an overemphasis on protection at the cost of due process. The latter leads to excesses such as false or too-easily-granted restraining orders. This case also raises the question of why fathers' rights organizations were unaware of this case while many domestic violence and women's groups were heavily involved.

Go to csmonitor.com

**********

Judge Dismisses Georgia Class-Action Suit

A federal district court judge recently dismissed a class-action lawsuit initiated by a Georgian petitioner with the backing of the Indiana Civil Rights Council.  The judge dismissed the case based on a lack of jurisdiction.  States are immune to suits brought by their own citizens in federal court. Courts have also dismissed the same complaints brought in New York, Alabama, New Mexico, and New Jersey with more sure to follow.  Update: Similar lawsuits were recently dismissed in Utah and Connecticut as well.

**********

International

Fäder För Rättvisa!

Fathers-4-Justice has now arrived in Sweden. A man in Stockholm recently climbed up the city's public theatre building dressed as Spider-Man. Although Sweden has some of the fairest family laws, advocates there say that the tide is turning as some feminist groups lobby to change current laws.

For our English-speaking readers

For our Swedish-speaking readers

**********

South Africa Updates Archaic Child Laws

South Africa's National Assembly recently passed a massive piece of legislation that greatly advanced the rights of children. Among the many aspects of the legislation is a component that will allow unmarried fathers to enjoy full parental responsibilities for the first time. The bill will now go on to the upper house for amendment and approval.

Go to Pretoria News Story

**********

Australian Government Responds to Dads' Demands

The federal government in Australia has started to warm up to fathers who wish to spend more time with their children. Legislation will be filed within the coming months that will apply mediation to divorce disputes, improve enforcement of contact orders, require more proof for allegations of domestic abuse, and generally give children more time with their fathers.

G o to 7news Story

**********

****************************************

BTW, one of the most important things that you can do as a member of this e-list is get other people to join. If you think of anyone who would enjoy or benefit from receiving our e-mails, please click on the link below that says "forward email."

Best Regards,

Ned Holstein, M.D., M.S.

Fathers & Families

email: nedholstein@fathersandfamilies.org

phone: (617) 542-9300

web: http://www.fathersandfamilies.org