The Arizona Family Court system is a disgrace and punitive. Furthermore, many of the judges in the Family Court system appear to legislate from the bench, NOT enforce legal statutes nor even render decisions with common sense. Children have been harmed. Children have gone missing. Caring parents who became “non-custodial” have spent upwards to millions of dollars (documented) attempting to protect their children from proven abuse by the once “non-custodial” parent who suddenly, and in spite of grave evidence, became the custodial parent. Go to my website” arizonatoday.org to hear testimony before the Joint Arizona Legislative Committee on Family Courts. You will find five days of testimony with evidence and documents presented from parents who experienced hellish manners and decisions of judges in the Arizona Family Court system.
Arizona State Senator Mark Finchem chaired this Joint Arizona Legislative Committee on Family Courts, and I was privileged to assist and coordinate many of the parents who testified. The stories are heartbreaking. Children damaged by the disillusionment of the marriage were incredibly hurt by the edits stemming from judges who one can only guess what their motive and reasoning was, and clearly NOT based on sound legal principles. Over five months of 7-hour per session testimony demonstrated a runaway court system, punitive actions by judges, behavioral health consultants that had little to no formal training or even degrees, and a system that emerged from a money marketing basis.
A degree of hope. A degree of success. Possibly some serious legal and personal inventory has crept into this heinous system. Read the message below from a mom who paid a dear price but kept fighting for her children. Give thanks for this slim but bright light that just emanated from the Arizona Supreme Court:
“Hello Senator Finchem. I wanted to say thank you so much for attending my Contempt Hearing back in September! Recently, I learned that it is VERY likely that Judge Zabor was going to have me thrown in jail that day. I truly believe that had you and Dr. Lyle not been in court that day, that is what would have happened. If it did, my children would have been in danger as Zabor would have likely notified DCS (AZ Dept of Children Services) that there were four children home alone and my boys would have entered state custody. Both of your presence jarred her and ultimately, she later made a ruling that I should pay the abuser of my children $2700, attend counseling for alienation and would have a contempt on record. The following day, she was recused from my case and such was listed as “disqualification” on the docket/in the ECR. Last week, the Arizona Supreme Court overturned Zabor’s entire ruling and that of the Appellate Court that affirmed such, remanding my case to Superior Court for a new trial. I say all that to say, I appreciate you and Dr. Lyle for making a positive difference in the lives of Arizonans, especially children. Thank you, again and GOD bless!” – Rachel Cardona
Want to meet some brave folks? Go to my website: arizonatoday.org and watch the legislative hearings, and then a program I did with parents who suffered greatly at the hands of the Arizona Family Courts. You will also hear a story from a brave young lady who had been sent to a “reeducation camp” out-of-state forcing her and her brother to develop a relationship with a less than mentally healthy biological dad. Her story is riveting, and she represented other minor children who experienced various dimensions of court actions.
Rachel Cardona’s win is a breath of hope for many parents in Arizona.
Lyle J. Rapacki, Ph.D.
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LYLE J. RAPACKI, Ph.D.
ARIZONA TODAY
Host and Commentator
Post Office Box 171
Skull Valley, Arizona 86338
Website: arizonatoday.org