27
November
2008

During this holiday season people are thankful for many different things.

Equal Custody for Parents

video

For Jeremy Hopkins, this Thanksgiving is the first big holiday he’s gotten to spend with his daughter Kate in 2 years.

The same amount of time Hopkins has wrangled through the Bradley County court system to get equal custody of his little girl Kate.

“All I want for my daughter is for her to have mom and a dad,” Jeremy Hopkins said in tears.

But his story - not unusual.

“The system allows this to happen, “Michael McCormick with the Institute for American Families said.

McCormick traveled from D.C. and stood on the Bradley County Courthouse steps Wednesday to shed light on the Hopkin’s case and many more like them.

In fact he says a million plus children pass through the family courts each year.

more


26
November
2008

http://www.corriere.com/viewstory.php?storyid=81314 (with google translation)

Care And Maintenance, The Battle Of Murtari

L’italoamericano che ha fatto proseliti anche in Canada arrestato per non aver pagato una multa
The italoamericano who made proselytes in Canada arrested for not having paid a fine
Di ALESSIO GALLETTI GALLETTI of ALESSIO

Mentre in Ontario l’Attorney General Bentley propone pene più severe per i genitori che violano le restrizioni emesse dai tribunali nelle battaglie legali per la custodia dei figli, negli Stati Uniti continua la battaglia di John Murtari perché il suo diritto ad essere genitore, dopo il divorzio dall’ex moglie, venga rispettato.

While in the Ontario Attorney General Bentley proposes tougher penalties for parents who violate the restrictions issued by the courts in legal battles for custody of the children in the United States continues to battle John Murtari because his right to be parents after divorce from his wife, is respected.

Già incarcerato due anni fa, l’italoamericano di Lyons, la cui battaglia ha fatto proseliti anche in Canada, è tornato di nuovo in cella la scorsa settimana, riprendendo la sua protesta pacifica, fatta di non collaborazione con le autorità carcerarie, dopo essere arrestato per non aver pagato una multa.

Already jailed two years ago, the italoamericano of Lyons, whose battle has made proselytes in Canada, is back again in the cell last week, resuming his peaceful protest, made up of non-cooperation with the prison authorities, after being arrested for not having paid a fine.

«Si è rifiutato di farlo perché secondo lui quella multa deriva da un atto ingiusto nei suoi confronti», spiega al telefono Terri Stoddard, al fianco di Murtari nella sua battaglia per pari diritti ai genitori divorziati.

“He refused to do so because he thinks that fine stems from an unjust act against him,” says the phone Terri Stoddard, alongside Murtari in its battle for equal rights for divorced parents.

La patente di Murtari, infatti, era stata sospesa dopo che l’uomo non era stato in grado di pagare gli alimenti dovuti alla moglie, provvedimento da lui ritenuto ingiusto, perché l’ammontare dei pagamenti era stato calcolato sulla base dello stipendio di un lavoro che l’uomo aveva ormai perso.

The license Murtari, in fact, had been suspended after the man had not been able to pay maintenance due to his wife, a measure he considered unfair, because the amount of payments was calculated based on the salary of a job that man had been lost.

Dato che attualmente l’italoamericano guadagna la metà di prima, per lui è diventato impossibile trovare i soldi sia per gli allimenti che per vedere il figlio Domenic, che ora vive in un altro Stato.

Since the italoamericano currently earns half of the first, for it has become impossible to find money for the allimenti to see that his son Domenic, who now lives in another state.

E da qui nasce l’impegno per garantire ad ogni genitore, all’interno di una coppia divorziata, la possibilità materiale di mantenere un rapporto con il figlio.

And here comes the commitment to ensure every parent within a couple divorced, the ability to maintain a material relationship with the child.

Questa infatti non è la prima volta che Murtari finisce in carcere a causa della difficoltà a pagare gli alimenti previsti dalla corte e allo stesso tempo trovare i soldi per vedere suo figlio, che ora vive con la madre.

This is not the first time that Murtari ends in jail because of difficulties to pay maintenance provided by the court and at the same time find money to see his son, who now lives with his mother.

Nel 2006 Murtari aveva già messo in pratica questa forma di resistenza passiva, andando avanti per dieci giorni di seguito.

In 2006 Murtari had already put into practice this form of passive resistance going forward for ten days later.

«Due anni fa John era preparato, questa volta per lui è stata una sorpresa», spiega però la Stoddard parlando dell’arresto avvenuto il 17 novembre.

“Two years ago John was prepared, this time for him was a surprise,” says Stoddard talking but the arrest occurred on November 17.

«Quando l’ho sentito venerdì - continua - dalla voce sembrava già molto debole». “When I heard Friday - still - from voice seemed already very weak.”
To protest against his imprisonment, Murtari has decided to stop eating and drinking until you find behind the bars, as it did in 2006.

«Una forma di protesta pacifica che non è uno sciopero della fame - spiega la Stoddard - John non vuole in alcun modo farsi del male.

‘A form of peaceful protest that is not a hunger strike - says Stoddard - John does not want in any way be evil.

Ha scelto questa strada, la resistenza passiva, perché è un uomo con una forte spiritualita».

He chose this path, passive resistance, because it is a man with a strong spirituality. ”

Ma venerdì scorso Murtari, ormai debole è stato trasferito in ospedale, dove «ha accettato acqua e panini di buon grado», continua la Stoddard.

But last Friday Murtari, is weak now been transferred to hospital, where “accepted water and sandwiches welcome,” Stoddard continues.

Questo gli ha permesso di riprendersi, ma una volta tornato in carcere l’italoamericano ha ripreso la sua forma di protesta pacifica.

This allowed him to recover, but once returned to the prison italoamericano has taken the form of peaceful protest.

L’ondata d’indignazione nata per la sua reclusione ha però spinto le autorità carcerarie a parlare con Murtari, che ieri è stato spostato in un carcere con un reparto ospedaliero più grande, dove potrà continuare il suo periodo di detenzione senza dover tornare in ospedale.

The wave of indignation came to his imprisonment has prompted the prison authorities to speak with Murtari, who yesterday was moved to a prison hospital ward with a larger, where he can continue his period of detention without having to go back to hospital .

«Quello che John vorrebbe - dice però la Stoddard - è scontare la sua pena nei finesettimana». “What John wants - but says Stoddard - has served his sentence in the weekend.


26
November
2008

http://fltimes.com/articles/2008/11/25/news/doc492c2258b585d003486248.txt

Lyons man arrested for AUO refuses food, water
By JIM MILLER
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 10:42 AM CST

LYONS — A village man who ended up on a feeding tube while jailed in 2006 has again been refusing food and water after his arrest last week for third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation.

John Murtari remained in the Wayne County Jail yesterday, where he was remanded in lieu of bail after state police arrested him Nov. 17.

In 2006, he was put on a feeding tube after refusing food and most water for 10 days while jailed for failure to pay $60,000 in back child support.

A self-described parents’ rights activist, Murtari considers the family court system unfair and has had several brushes with the law in recent years.

His driver’s license was revoked because of his failure to pay child support, prompting his decision to protest his most recent arrest by refusing nutrition, said Terri Stoddard, a longtime friend who often speaks on Murtari’s behalf when he is incarcerated.

Stoddard said she talked with Murtari Friday.

“He already sounded really weak,” she said.

Murtari was later taken to the hospital, where he agreed to eat and drink because he was no longer in jail, Stoddard said. But he has again refused nutrition since being returned to his cell, she said.

Wayne County Sheriff Richard Pisciotti said federal privacy laws prevent him from discussing Murtari’s medical condition, including whether he’s eating or drinking anything.

“I’m aware of a situation,” Pisciotti said.

Pisciotti did deny Stoddard’s claim that a warden threatened to move Murtari to another jail unless he cooperated.

Speaking generally, the sheriff said, the jail can seek a court order to provide nutrition if necessary to safeguard an inmate’s health.

Stoddard said Murtari’s next court date is Dec. 17 and that he could face two weeks in jail for not paying the ticket.

“He could pay the ticket in a second,” she said. “But he said if he does that, that’s admitting he’s guilty.”

In 2006, Murtari lost 27 pounds while jailed in Syracuse. He spent nearly four months on a feeding tube.

“Some people think he’s kind of crazy, but he’s not,” Stoddard said. “He was interviewed by two different psychiatrists the last time he did this, and he’s completely mentally healthy.”


20
November
2008

excerpt:

“We’ve seen the impact that fathers make on a child’s life. In the past, it had been the idea that the father is the breadwinner, and the mother stayed home and took care of the kids. That thinking has changed,” said Larry L. Klinger, who oversees family and community programs for the intermediate unit. “Changing a thought process is one barrier.”

Institutions such as courts and schools have been slow to adjust and still often treat fathers as second-class citizens, dads and advocates say. That can be a decimating experience, both financially and mentally, said Thomas Tessaro of Franklin Park, a board member with the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Congress for Fathers and Children.

He frequently gets calls from fathers desperate for help, he said. Divorce lawyers often push ex-wives to pursue unnecessary protection-from-abuse orders just for leverage in custody battles, and decades of stereotyping often lead people to be unfairly leery of fathers, he said.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/today/s_599223.html


20
November
2008

To some people John Murtari is a deadbeat parent. Others see him as a good parent and man of faith. Graduating Cum Laude from the Air Force Academy with a degree in Astronautical Engineering, Murtari went on to Pilot Training and became an Instructor Pilot. Divorced with one son, he now owns a small internet company and serves as a Lector at St. Michael’s, his local Church.

Murtari was arrested in front of his home in Lyons on Monday night for an unpaid traffic ticket. Police used pepper spray when Murtari began passive resistance. Murtari is the founder of akidsright.org, a parents group that advocates for a Federal Family Rights Act. He says the law is unjust and plans on continuing to be passive while incarcerated.

In an affidavit for the court Murtari wrote, “The backdoor connection between Child Support payments and driving is a violation of individual rights to due process. Family Court Support proceedings operate with reduced levels of proof and evidence. I now face numerous criminal charges with no real means of defense. If my license had been suspended due to DWI, speeding, or other traffic violations I would have been protected during those proceedings by strict rules of evidence and a strong burden of proof.”

Two years ago Murtari also passively resisted arrest and went 10 days without food or water before he was given a feeding tube by his jailers. Murtari appeared in court yesterday looking drawn and tired. Members of the Equal Parents for Children group in Rochester observed the hearing and said he didn’t look well. Today is Murtari’s third day without food or water.

Laurie Reilly Radio Show, John Murtari Interview, Sept 10, 06

news10now, John Murtari In Jail Interview, 2006


18
November
2008

John Murtari was arrested last night in front of his home. Police
officers were there waiting for him. The arrest was in repsponse
to his unpaid traffic ticket.

John was polite with the officers, but he remained passive. They
ended up having to use pepper spray on him. For some reason his
car was towed away. He is being held in the Wayne County Jail
and has a court appearance tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m.

As he did several years ago, John will be non-cooperating with the
unjust sentence by remaining passive and not following jail orders
while in captivity. He will not voluntarily eat or drink, but expects
the State to completely take care of him by tube feeding (as happened
two years ago). He does not want to hurt himself and this is NOT a
hunger-strike.

For more details see and updates:
http://www.AKidsRight.Org/support/traffic_jm.htm

Teri Stoddard will be coordinating our response, please contact her
if you can help: teri.sharedparentingworks@gmail.com

You are also welcome to call/write these officials on his behalf.m

* DA Richard Healey , Hall of Justice, Suite 202, Lyons, NY 14489
(Phone: 315-946-5905 / Fax: 315-946-5911)

* Mr. Richard Wunder, Ass. District Attorney, 54 Broad St. Lyons, NY 14489
(Phone: 315-946-5905 / Fax: 315-946-5911)

* New York State Assemblyman Robert Oaks, 10 Leach Road, Lyons, NY 14489
(Phone: 315-946-5166 / Fax: 315-946-5229)

* Judge Nicholas Forgione, 79 William St., Lyons, NY 14489
(Phone: 315-946-1204)


27
October
2008

The State of Minnesota is considering whether in divorce cases, joint physical custody should be the starting point. This reflects a significant change in the thinking about what’s best for children after a divorce.

Back in the 1970s, mothers usually got custody. Joint custody was a strange experiment. Thirty years later, one family looks back on their experience.

Three decades later, dad and daughter reflect on joint custody
by Sasha Aslanian, Minnesota Public Radio
October 27, 2008

St. Paul, Minn. — Molly Brom made the newspaper at age 6. Her father, John Bujon saved a copy. The yellowed Family Living section of the Minneapolis Tribune is headlined “After Marriage Break-up, Children Can Still Live with Two Parents.”

Sitting in her father’s home near Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Molly Brom is 36 now. Blond curls still frame her face, though now she wears a pair of brown rectangular glasses.

Brom and her dad have agreed to talk about their foray into joint custody in the 1970s. Her mom died in 1994 from cancer. more from MPR


20
October
2008

FREE WEBINAR: THE IMPACT OF DIVORCE ON KIDS
Wed, Oct 22,12:30-2pm EDT

Host: the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center (NHMRC)

Presenters: Paul Amato and Robin Deutsch on the latest research on how divorce is affecting child well-being, including academic achievement, social functioning, and mental health status. The webinar will provide information on the differing outcomes of divorce on children coming from low-conflict and high-conflict homes and discuss what parents and marriage educators can do to help reduce the negative impacts. The webinar is open to anyone interested in learning more about the topic.

A Webinar is a seminar presentation that allows you to simultaneously listen to (on the phone) and watch the presentations (on your computer).

Joining the webinar is a two step process - first link on via your computer and then call in to listen on your phone.

1. Use this link to log on:
https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/gc_min_pro_usa/join?id=NHMRC&role=attend&pw=nhmrc01

2. After you have signed on on your computer, call: 800- 747-0365. An operator will ask you a few questions and then add you to the conference call.

It is recommended that you sign on 10-15 minutes in advance of the Webinar.

To listen ONLY: Skip the computer log-in and simply dial: 1-800-747-0365
An operator will ask you a few questions and connect you to the call.

The complete, combined audio/video recording and all presentation materials will also be posted on the NHMRC website, 7-9 days after the Webinar at http://www.healthymarriageinfo.org

If you have questions, contact Stephanie Wofford at info@healthymarriageinfo.org.


14
October
2008

October 14, 2008, SACRAMENTO, CA

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Sacramento

“We find the gender-based classifications in the challenged statutes that provide programs for victims of domestic violence violate equal protection. We find male victims of domestic violence are similarly situated to female victims for purposes of the statutory programs and no compelling state interest justifies the gender classification. We reform the affected statutes by invalidating the exemption of males and extending the statutory benefits to men, whom the Legislature improperly excluded.”

more…


30
September
2008

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100008_01/10/2008_100943

A new draft bill, to be submitted in Parliament this week, foresees a swifter process for issuing divorces, provisions to promote the joint custody of children when a couple divorces and the simplification of the state adoption system.

The brainchild of Justice Minister Sotiris Hatzigakis, the bill also proposes a controversial cohabitation provision that would grant heterosexual couples living together the same rights as married couples.

If the bill is approved, married couples who file for divorce will have to wait only two years for the decision to be made final, compared to four years now.

Another significant aspect of the bill is geared toward protecting the children of couples seeking divorce by proposing that custody of the children be shared by the two parents, unless a court deems that there is “significant reason” for just one parent to assume responsibility. The bill contains a long list of possible reasons for such an arrangement, including the indifference of one parent, displayed through their failure to see the child regularly or live up to their financial responsibilities, and attempts by one parent to stop the other from seeing the child.

The same bill also seeks to facilitate those trying to adopt a child through the state system, a notoriously complex process that can take up to six years. The bill contains provisions aimed at reducing to a minimum each child’s stay at adoption homes.

Finally the reforms would give the rubber stamp to a proposed cohabitation law. The law would allow unmarried couples to acquire all the tax, insurance and social benefits currently enjoyed only by married couples simply by signing a standard notary contract.