This is a news digest, not a compilation of opinion. Fathers & Families takes no position on the stories reported here unless the context clearly indicates so.

 

Local

 

Attempts to Limit Ballot Initiatives Could Limit Democracy

 

New legislation being proposed by the Massachusetts Senate would limit the right of Massachusetts citizens to file a ballot initiative even more than the already tight standards currently in place. The bill would prohibit the common practice of paying outside groups for each signature they gather. While many are framing this issue around the subject of gay-marriage, Fathers and Families take no position on that subject, but only wishes to preserve the already much-limited right to ballot initiatives. As you may recall, Fathers & Families used the process last fall to put a very successful nonbinding referendum on the ballot regarding joint physical custody. The referendum vote has been heralded around the country.

 

Go to Boston Herald Story

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Regional

 

Relocation Could Allow for Custody Change

 

Do you think moving out of state is a "significant change" in a child's life? Massachusetts, like most states, doesn't think so. As a result, you cannot try to have custody changed "merely" because your child is being moved to Idaho. Standing out in the crowd, though, is the Vermont Supreme Court which has held that if a custodial parent decides to relocate, then the non-custodial parent may attempt to obtain a change in custody. Factors that may come into play when the court examines the request include: amount of custodial responsibility exercised, "the distance and duration of the move", and available alternatives for visitation. This case stands in contrast to a recent Colorado Supreme Court case that made it easier for one parent to move away. The Vermont case, Hawkes v. Spence, is a victory for non-custodial fathers.

 

Go to FindLaw Opinion

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National

 

Missouri Man Forced to Pay Child Support...

 

...for a child that DNA tests proved is not his. The Kansas City man took a paternity test, years after he began paying child support, and discovered he was not the father of the child. When he tried to stop paying the support, the state continued to withdraw money from his bank account because they said he had not taken the test within the required one year timeframe. This news digest recently mentioned a similar situation involving a man from Maine. Most states will not allow men to end child support obligations unless they produce DNA evidence within a deadline, often one year.

 

Go to Kansas City Story

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New Jersey Group Sues to Keep Anti-Father Judge off Bench

 

A group of fathers' advocates in New Jersey are using a legal technicality in an attempt to keep what they see as an anti-father judge from being re-appointed to one of the state's Superior Courts. The fathers contend that they were not given five working days time, the standard amount of time, for notice of the judge's confirmation hearing. Several advocacy groups are involved in the lawsuit. They allege that the judge has a "pro- wife" bias in her decisions and that her conduct in court is rude and hostile to men.

 

Go to the Star-Ledger Story

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VAWA Hearing Lacks Critics

 

This week, the U.S. Senate's Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, but no critics of the law were to be found on any of the panels. It is hard to see the point of holding a public hearing if only advocates of the proposed legislation are allowed to testify while critics are kept off the panel. Fathers & Families deplores domestic violence. That is why we think VAWA needs to be amended - to protect all victims of domestic violence.

 

Go to Committee Speakers List

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Second National Men's Equality Congress Held in DC

 

Over 70 men and women met in the nation's capital last week to discuss issues concerning divorced fathers and children. Speakers included author Warren Farrell and syndicated radio talk show host Glenn Sacks. The group also did some lobbying on Capitol Hill and protesting in front of the Supreme Court.

 

Go to True Equality Website

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International

 

Father of Kidnapped Children Tries to Keep in Contact

 

A Canadian father, whose daughters were allegedly abducted by their mother years ago, is fighting to stay in contact with his daughters. Thirteen years ago, the mother took the children to England and has lived there ever since. The father then reported the abduction to police. The mother cannot leave the country because she is wanted by Interpol, but while there she cannot be charged under English law. The father only wishes to be able to write letters to his daughters.

 

Go to icWales Story

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New Statistics on Canadian Domestic Violence

 

The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics recently released its 2005 profile on family violence. The profile reports that men and women are victims of domestic violence roughly the same percentage of time (54% for women and 46% for men). Also, women are far more likely to report instances of domestic violence to police. Statistics like these counter the fallacy that domestic violence is an issue only for women.

 

Go to Canadian Report (pdf file)