4 years ago
Five mothers all say they lost custody of the children they raised from birth and that the court turned against them when they brought allegations of abuse against the children?s' fathers.
An organization in Washington says it's overwhelmed with similar heart wrenching cases across the country. Elen King with Justice For Children says the problem is that courts often don't believe the mothers' accusations and decide she's wrongfully alienating the child from the father.
These attorneys who handle Justice For Children cases at no charge say the first problem is that child molestation is often difficult to prove.
Long time family law attorneys Beverly Thompson and Elona Grenedier don't feel this is a problem. Spotsylvania Judge Joseph Ellis says he's the target of complaints by at least four mothers who say he took their children away for no reason and gave them to dangerous fathers.
Virginia domestic relations code says that the court shall consider whether each parent actively supports the child's contact and relationship with the other parents. But it also says that can be disregarded if any history of family abuse exists.
But the Justice for Children attorney believes legislation is needed to protect parents who raise abuse allegations.
"If it turns out they're acting on good faith, they should not be able to have their custody stripped base solely on their accusation.
Paul Griffin is running for delegate in Montgomery County and he wants to try to get that law enacted. It's already is law in Tennessee.
