The Closed Loop: How AFCC Captured Maryland’s Family Courts
Michael Phillips highlights a persistent issue in Maryland's family court system, where court-ordered communication through platforms like OurFamilyWizard fails due to lack of enforcement against non-compliant parents. This situation reveals a systematic…
One Day, Seven Cases: A Court Watcher’s Portrait of Judge Vivian Wang
Judge Vivian Wang, newly appointed in San Mateo County family court, is navigating her first year with a strong commitment to understanding cases and assisting unrepresented litigants. However, her lack of family law experience exposes gaps in legal…
The Other Side Writes the Order. Here’s Why That Should Concern You.
In California family court, the attorney representing the winning side drafts the official court order, which becomes the permanent record of proceedings. This practice poses significant risks for self-represented litigants who may be unaware of their…
Court Denies Brenna Gano’s Motions — But Sets the Stage for Trial
A San Mateo family court judge rejected Brenna Gano's requests to set aside a contested 2022 settlement, citing statute of limitations issues. While Gano claimed duress and lack of accommodations, the judge ruled her allegations did not meet the…
The Same Tools
The article explores how tactics used in controlling marriages transition to family court, impacting custody cases. It highlights four parents' experiences, demonstrating a structural failure of family courts to recognize coercive control patterns. The…
Court Watchers Needed Tomorrow Morning in Redwood City, California
A San Mateo County family court hearing is scheduled for May 20, where Brenna Gano will request to overturn a 2022 settlement agreement she claims was signed under coercion. This motion raises conflict-of-interest concerns regarding Judge Vivian Wang.…
When the Family Court Judge Becomes the Defendant
A Philadelphia family court judge now faces serious assault charges after allegedly attacking his wife and adult daughter inside his home. The case raises uncomfortable questions about accountability in a system that routinely judges the conduct of…
What the Defendant Admitted Under Oath
The Hornbeck deposition highlights the complexities of parental custody disputes in family court, where personal narratives often clash. Under oath, Sarah Hornbeck addressed significant past events, including a 2018 arrest and disputes over child…
Court of No Return: What Really Happens After CPS Takes Your Child
By Michael Phillips | Father & Co.Series: Family for Sale – Part 3 Behind the locked doors of America’s family courts, justice is not blind—it’s gagged. Once Child Protective Services removes a child from their home, families are swept into a shadow…
Withdrawn but Not Resolved: Inside a Maryland Case That Wouldn’t End Quietly
In a Maryland family law case, attorney Jeff Reichert voluntarily dismissed his petition without prejudice, intending to withdraw due to unresolved ADA accommodation issues. Despite this, a pre-trial conference was still scheduled, prompting the opposing…