Mommies at Law

Ohio's ACLU report card

2009-02-26T11:05:00.001-05:00

Evaluating Juvenile Justice in Ohio: A Report Card

Waiver of Counsel: Incomplete
Shackling of Juveniles: F
Juvenile Transfers: C-
Rates of Juvenile Detention and Committment: C
Disproportionate Minority Confinement: Incomplete

When law and economic policy collide

2009-02-26T10:36:00.002-05:00

I was hoping the budget journalization case in Lake County would be decided by the Supreme Court of Ohio. It is an interesting question of law that really should be played out to a decision. Who gets to decide? Taken to the extreme...could a court journalize a budget that results in the slashing of budgets for other county departments (to the point that other services can not be offered at all)?

But this particular case won't see the Supreme Court because it was settled due to the economic atmosphere that breeds comments like those found at the end of the online posting of that article. Feel lucky you have a job rather than expect to be paid for the true value of what you do. Don't ya just love recession thinking?

More election research

2008-10-23T13:51:00.000-04:00

Ashtabula County

Election research

2008-10-23T13:40:00.001-04:00

Judge4Yourself.com

Judge4Yourself.com is a service of the Judicial Candidates Rating Coalition (JCRC), an umbrella organization that includes Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, The Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, The Norman S. Minor Bar Association, and The Ohio Women's Bar Association.

Members of the organizations that make up JCRC are a diverse group of men and women, including lawyers and non-lawyers. Some practice solo or in a small group; others work for large firms, local companies or government. Some of us represent only individuals. Others usually work with businesses. We and our clients have many different perspectives and views, but there is one thing on which we agree - we want highly qualified, fair and respectful judges on our courts.

To bring you ratings of the candidates for judicial office, about 50 to 60 of us set aside several days each year to review the candidates’ qualifications, interview the candidates, and share experiences representing clients before judges who are running for the same or a new position. Each organization separately chooses a rating that expresses, in one word, its evaluation of each candidate’s professional competence, integrity, work ethic and temperament.

On the November 2008 ballot, Cuyahoga County voters will vote for judges for five different courts: the Court of Common Pleas General Division, the Domestic Relations Court, the Probate Court, the Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court. Before you vote, review our ratings and the information about each candidate available by link to his or her name on the candidate grid.

The election of judges and the decisions they make can have profound consequences for us, our families, our businesses and our community. Learn more here, and choose well.

We rate the judicial candidates...so you can judge for yourself.

2008-08-20T15:02:00.004-04:00

I am very sad today.

2008-08-13T16:55:00.002-04:00

An appeals court has ruled that Bainbridge Township police should not have entered Phyllis Andrews' home without a warrant, even though they saw underage drinking, because no emergency existed.

"sexting" as child pornography?

Too much?

2008-07-24T14:21:00.002-04:00

A Judge in New Zealand "made the 9-year-old girl a ward of the court so that her name could be changed, he said in a ruling made public Thursday."

"New Zealand law does not allow names that would cause offense to a reasonable person, among other conditions, said Brian Clarke, the registrar general of Births, Deaths and Marriages."

Interesting story

I worked in Juvenile Court for a couple of years and saw some doozies myself (some that were patently offensive). The remedy here seems a bit harsh, however.

Texas v. FLDS

2008-07-21T13:23:00.002-04:00

Texas Child Protective Services took a lot of criticism for the wholesale removal of more than 400 children from the FLDS Yearning For Zion Ranch near Eldorado, Texas. And I will admit that I had my own concerns about the way they handled the situation. But this gives me pause.

There was no evidence, at the time, of abuse or neglect. But given the tight-knit nature of this organization, could it be that the evidence doesn't exist BECAUSE of the abuse? Perhaps children are brainwashed into thinking they are receiving acceptable treatment? Perhaps they are taught to lie to cover up for the adults in their lives (which, at the risk of over-generalizing, is pretty typical of abused and neglected children).

Monday morning headlines

2008-07-16T14:16:00.004-04:00

Court rules against gay mom on ending joint custody

Proposed public-access rules for court records will go to Ohio Supreme Court for review

Cuyahoga juvenile offenders can give blood to fulfill community service

U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear Spies’ appeal in civil case filed by Anthony Harris

Juvenile Court employees to unionize?

Regular feature

2008-07-16T14:13:00.002-04:00

Rather than posting them willy-nilly, I think I'm going to try to do a regular round-up of interesting articles once a week. What do you think? Fridays? Mondays? Wednesdays?

Hey there!

2008-07-07T09:48:00.003-04:00

Let me tell you a story...

A long long long time ago, two mommies decided to start a blog...this blog.

Then life happened and they were distracted by happy and sad life events.

Then blogger changed and they couldn't access their blog.

The mommiesesq2 had some free time at work one day and she wandered through the maze of passwords and secret questions to reactivate email accounts and reclaim this blog!

Huzzah!

I think a template change may be in order for this new era. We shall see...

So...How ya been?

New Blogger: please stand by we are experiencing technical difficulties

2007-03-03T22:35:00.000-05:00

Well, we've made the switch, but our archives seem to have disappeared.

We can still access the old posts in our dashboard, but not at the site.

Hmmmm.

DV Units

2007-01-11T15:24:00.000-05:00

I like this idea. It would certainly help create a more consistent response from law enforcement.

I do wonder how many ways we can divide resources though.

It's all so simple

2006-09-08T14:38:00.000-04:00

Have a few things to say about this, but I have to work today and I'm afraid I would break my keyboard with all the furious typing I would have to do.

So let me just say this for now...

Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Magistrate Peter Murray said Court's and Lisa's battles with Lisa are typicalrepresentative of those of many parents who end up in his cramped courtroom/office.

"I see the same things over and over again," he said. "These kids simply don't want to follow the rules set by their parents."

No...it's not QUITE that simple.

How?

2006-09-08T14:31:00.000-04:00

How do people like this become...
and stay...foster parents?

Affidavits from two supervisors of investigations for Clermont County Children's Protective Services, filed Tuesday in Juvenile Court, indicated that the Carrolls moved frequently and relied on child care payments for support.

The couple has lived in at least 10 places since 1998, neither had steady outside employment and their sole income came from foster care, daycare and government assistance, the affidavits said.

Wasn't anybody paying attention?!?!

Closed trial not automatic

2006-09-08T14:24:00.000-04:00

Closed trial not automatic
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Supreme Court has ordered broader access to juvenile court trials, procedures and records in response to a newspaper's lawsuit over a fatal mugging and an arson.

"It's the first time the court has said any portion of any juvenile court records would have to be open," said David Marburger, attorney for the (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. "There is going to be across-the-board access statewide."

In a unanimous ruling Wednesday (Aug. 30), justices said a juvenile court judge cannot close proceedings without a hearing. The court ordered Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Judge Alison Floyd to provide the newspaper with transcripts and dockets from the two cases, and, in one case, conduct further hearings.

The Plain Dealer had sued after Floyd closed portions of the proceedings in the mugging and the arraignment of two 11-year-old girls who were accused of setting a fire.

Associated Press

It's over?

2006-08-24T10:28:00.000-04:00

Long saga of Juvenile Court ends with a deal

After 20 years of bitterness and broken deals, the Cuyahoga County commissioners and Juvenile Court judges plan to sign a pact Thursday to build a new detention center and courthouse.

OK...place your bets...

Permanency is most important?

2006-08-24T09:48:00.000-04:00

Teen Sues Mother for ID of Father

The teen, known as "Minor J." in court records, wants to check for any family illnesses. And the U.S. Constitution, Baskin argues, guarantees him the right to know that information, as does the U.S. Supreme Court. He cited a 1973 Supreme Court ruling, Gomez v. Torres, 409 U.S. 5353, in which the court held that an illegitimate child has a legal right to sue his father for support because he's entitled to equal protection under the law.

...

According to attorneys for both sides, Minor J. learned in 2004 from two DNA tests that his mother's ex-husband -- the man he thought was his father -- was not his biological parent. The parents had divorced in 1995. In 2004, the ex-husband went to court to end child support payments after DNA tests revealed he wasn't the father.

...

Putman's legal argument rests on the legitimacy of Minor J. She claims he is a legitimate child who has no standing to sue. She cited a 1988 Michigan Court of Appeals case, Puffpaff v. Hull, 169 Mich App. 688, in which the court held that a legitimate child does not have standing to pursue a paternity action. She also cited Michigan's Paternity Act, which holds that only illegitimate children can sue to have child support established.

It will be interesting to see how the court handles this. The individual rights argument is compelling, albeit a bit confusing with the approach from a child support angle. The child is not really pursuing a paternity action, but a...what? It's not a public records request. It's a personal right to private information. But who has the right...who does the private information belong to?

As the child of an adopted parent, I am particularly interested in the claims of a right to health information. I have suffered some strange medical conditions lately that make me wonder if my birth grandfather and his family would hold any answers.

Rehabilitation or retribution?

2006-08-24T09:35:00.000-04:00

The debate rages on and on, ad nauseum. But it is no more sharply brought into focus than in Kenton, Ohio where two juvenile delinquents were sentenced to a stay in detention...to commence after football season.

Their offense?

The teens placed a decoy deer on a dark road in November. When a car crashed while trying to avoid it, two people were severely injured. Driver Robert Roby is now physically disabled; his teenage passenger, Dustin Zachariah, is brain damaged. Three other teens still have court cases pending.

The judge's reasoning makes sense on paper...

"I would love to make (the victims) whole, but you can’t go back and unring a bell," McKinley said. Then, he told a crying Howard: "I’m going let you play football. I’m going to let you have your shot at a scholarship. What you make of it is up to you."

To the attorneys and the courtroom in general, he added: "Denying him an opportunity to play football and denying him an opportunity to go to college isn’t in any way going to help the victims in this case or help society."

Obviously the judge is focused on rehabilitation. But I'm not so sure how I would feel if I were a victim. HOW to accomplish rehabilitative goals is far from an exact science. Granted, the future for these boys should be a consideration. But what rehabilitative qualities will detention have if it does not result in the loss of their freedoms to enjoy those things in life that they now freely enjoy? I'm not convinced that a temporary lock-up, at a person's convenience, holds any teaching value if it is treated merely as a scheduling inconvenience to be worked in when there is a lull in activity.

I do also have to admit to having an anti-football prejudice that makes me question this judge's decision. Would the same accommodation have been made for someone in the drama club? academic decathlon? band? No, never mind, I already know the answer.

Columbus Dispatch article

And I thought Ohio had problems

2006-08-24T09:33:00.000-04:00

In Michigan, more than 300 juveniles have been sentenced to life without parole -- one of the highest such numbers in the nation.

editorial here

A favor

2006-08-07T10:46:00.000-04:00

If anybody has a subscription to The British Journal of Psychiatry, I would love to see a copy of this paper...Stillbirth - psychological impact on fathers (Jul 31, 2006). Thanks!

2005 CURVATION PROJECT CONFIDENCE Award

2006-08-07T10:28:00.000-04:00

Exemplifying the spirit of NATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFIDENCE DAY, the 2005 CURVATION PROJECT CONFIDENCE Awards national recipient was Yvonne Pointer of Cleveland, Ohio. Yvonne turned a heartbreaking personal tragedy into a one-woman quest to make the world a safer place and empower women and girls. She established the Gloria Pointer Annual Scholarship Award, funded by the proceeds of her self-published book "Behind the Death of a Child," which was written about the tragic rape and murder of her own fourteen year old daughter, Gloria. She also founded the non-profit Positive Plus, dedicated to motivating women to become responsible and seize control of their destiny; has been a role model for the Cleveland Public School's "Girl Power" program; and has spent time building the confidence and self-respect of inmates in women's and juvenile prisons. Yvonne is planning on using the winning grant to go to Ghana, Africa, where she is working to build a school for underprivileged children.

Source

What?

2006-08-07T09:47:00.000-04:00

I'm a lawyer and I don't understand what this money will be spent on.

...better access to integrated services designed to protect their health and well-being...

...infrastructure activities, such as cross-systems training, quality assurance measurement, activity consultations and coordination, data collection and management, and related costs.

HUH?!?!

Update:

2006-08-07T09:40:00.000-04:00

Guilty plea by woman who took son from hospital

Carlsen believed kidney dialysis might be harmful and wanted more time to seek a second opinion.

But doctors convinced a court that the surgery was needed immediately.

---------------------

Because Carlsen has abided by the wishes of the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), which had custody of Riley when he was taken, and has complied with the orders of the Pierce County judge handling custody issues in the case, the charge was reduced from felony second-degree kidnapping to second-degree custodial interference, a gross misdemeanor, said King County senior deputy prosecutor Lisa Johnson.

---------------------

I do not know why, but this story distresses me. Unlike the story of the teenager who wants control over his own medical decisions, this child is at the mercy of two warring factions...his parents and his medical doctors. AND given that there seems to be some uncertainty as to the medical necessity of the procedure at this point in time, I have to wonder...what's going on here that I don't know?

Special four-part series on combating truancy in school

2006-08-07T09:32:00.000-04:00

The Pine Journal
Cloquet, Minnesota

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

2006-08-07T09:31:00.000-04:00

Edwatch by Julia Steiny: Instead of throwing kids out let's work on solving problems

The start of a new movement? Or an existing movement gaining momentum? I guess it doesn't matter.

Brilliant!

2006-08-07T09:16:00.000-04:00

When can a child choose his own medical treatment [with the guidance of parents-but not religiously dictated]?

An Accomack circuit judge ordered a new trial for Aug. 16 to decide whether Cherrix can choose his treatment. The judge threw out a juvenile-court ruling that ordered Cherrix to show up for conventional treatment at Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk.

Black's Law Dictionary:
Neglected child. A child is "neglected" when his parent or custodian, by reason of cruelty, mental incapacity, immorality or depravity, is unfit properly to care for him, or neglects or refuses to provide necessary physical, affectional, medical, surgical, or institutional or hospital care for him, or he is in such condition of want or suffering, or is under such improper care or control as to endanger his morals or health.

Having faced a whole lot of it this year, I think I see a system/society that is very afraid of death. The very definition of neglect is inherently afraid of death. But how does it guard against it? Majority rule? Who gets to decide? And what is "necessary" medical or hospital care?

2006-08-03T09:44:00.000-04:00

Does anyone know if truancy programs that bring the parents into court actually work? I mean, it makes sense that if a child is truant, and the police pick him/her up and return him/her to school, that will lessen truancy and related crime. But what effect does bringing parents in have? I don't think I've seen any studies to prove one way or the other.

(ME1 - A not-so-stupid study possibility?)

2006-08-03T09:36:00.000-04:00

The Boston Globe
For juvenile offenders, a measure of justice that heals
Teens go not to court, but to a program with the victim to sort the problem out

"In Zucker's case, soon after the graffiti incident, the owner of one of the vandalized businesses gave Zucker a job. Zucker said the job, which he kept for five years, was among the most positive influences on his life.
...
``I have seen what a great effect the program has had, particularly on my own child," Robin Zucker said. ``He saw he was treated with worth and dignity and had to treat other people that way."
...
Chase said that under the program the offender, the offender's parents, the crime victim, a police officer, a volunteer assisting the offender, a volunteer assisting the victim, a case coordinator, and a meeting moderator all meet to discuss what happened, the harm done, and how the harm can be rectified.

The group sits in a circle. To ensure that each person has a chance to speak without interruption, a round gray stone engraved with the word ``courage" is passed around the circle. Only the person holding the stone can talk.

``The process of going around the circle and speaking about it so openly and honestly and emotionally creates an atmosphere of healing that makes everyone want to do what's right," Chase said."

How refreshing to find a community willing to work to save juveniles on the brink of disaster. To use an old cliche...it takes a village...

2006-08-03T09:29:00.000-04:00

Now this is an interesting story. I would be very interested to read the actual charges filed...maybe a transcript of the "incident" would shed light on what happened.

But regardless of the facts of this situation, it raises an interesting question. How far can a judge/magistrate go in maintaining their docket? How civil does a judge/magistrate have to be to the attorneys who appear in front of them? What about those attorneys who engage in legal shenanigans and deserve a good lecture or two?

"...berating one of the attorneys, yelling at her as she tossed a law book on the table before her."

That makes me giggle because it sounds like something I would do. Which is precisely why I could never be a judge/magistrate.

2006-08-03T09:26:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the Columbiana County Child Support Agency for increasing its collection of child support by more than two percent.

Now, if we could just do BETTER than 69.3 percent of regular support orders and 69.6 percent of arrearages, we'd have a decent system. (sorry...was that too snarky?)

2006-07-21T15:02:00.000-04:00

Juvenile Court Judge Cannot Make Custody Order Regarding Missing Child—Court of Appeal

Interesting.

2006-07-20T12:12:00.000-04:00

How incredibly sad.

Agency was within hours of removing kids from the home: Allegations of sex abuse led to the intervention of a protective agency and a ban on the dad's presence in home.

And now the youngest child is dead and the four-year-old in the hospital with burns over much of his body from a fire that it is alleged the mother set.

2006-07-20T12:08:00.000-04:00

Best interests of who?

Remade life not enough: Ohio high court denies mom who lost daughter

Thoughts?

This statement particularly disturbed me: "If the court had ruled for Fugate, Roberts said, it could have opened the floodgates for other parents to do the same thing. "It could have created problems not only for us, but other children services agencies across the country," he said."

Is this really what we're worried about when we're practicing family and juvenile law? The administrative convenience of the agency? Seems a bit backward to me.

2006-07-20T12:02:00.000-04:00

What are they smoking over there in Indianapolis?

Audit finds disorder in Payne court: Report cites poor bookkeeping, $2,317 for going-away party

Now THAT'S a party I would like to go to!

And the rest...that's why the public doesn't trust the justice system.

2006-07-20T11:58:00.000-04:00

An update to a story previously mentioned on this blog.

Baby's kidney illness pits parents against doctors Kidnapping case reveals conflict between homeopathic, traditional Western medicine.

I am not up to date on the state of parental rights. But it seems to me that the parent was pretty much eliminated from the equation as related to this baby's medical care. How is that possible?

2006-07-02T13:42:00.000-04:00

Fascinating...

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial pathogen that can cause invasive disease in predisposed individuals, including pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. During pregnancy, listeriosis leads to spontaneous abortion, preterm labor, or neonatal disease. Tropism of L. monocytogenes to the placenta and maternal immunosuppression, have been hypothesized to be the cause of the susceptibility to listeriosis during pregnancy. This study presents a series of experiments in a pregnant guinea pig model of listeriosis and mathematical simulation of the infection, which led the authors to propose a new model. A single bacterium is sufficient to cause placental infection. Due to decreased clearance in the placenta there is a strong increase of bacteria in the placental compartment, which becomes a nidus of infection leading to continuous seeding of maternal organs. Thus, the increase of bacteria in maternal organs is not due to immunosuppression but to efflux of L. monocytogenes from the placenta. This process will be interrupted by expulsion of the infected feto-placental tissues. Therefore, spontaneous abortion and prematurity can be regarded as survival mechanisms for the mother. Furthermore, this study hypothesizes that expulsion of the infected placenta may be important for the natural history of listeriosis.

link

Even more fascinating (and frustrating)...

The study is the first to trace such a pathway of infection, and it dashes the widely-held assumption that immune-system changes during pregnancy are to blame for elevated Listeria infection rates.

link

2006-07-02T13:31:00.000-04:00

Victoria's Secret Welcomes Breastfeeding Protestors.

Last June, Ohio legislators legalized breast-feeding in public places.

So, prior to last June...it was illegal? to feed your child?

I have no words.

2006-06-28T10:44:00.000-04:00

Another Superman film? Really?

2006-06-28T09:50:00.000-04:00

WTF?????

LEBANON, Ohio -- A Cincinnati-area teen charged in a deadly crash has been sent home from juvenile detention to prepare for football season.

The 16-year-old Loveland High School junior will attend conditioning sessions three mornings a week, but Warren County Juvenile Court Judge Michael Powell also has set a number of restrictions. The boy can't drive and must be with a parent at all times. And, he must undergo random drug tests.

The teen was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide in an accident a week-and-a-half ago that killed a 22-year-old woman and her unborn son. The State Highway Patrol said the boy was speeding and reaching for a cell phone when he crossed the center line and hit the other car head-on.

story

2006-06-28T09:41:00.000-04:00

You can't even trust DisneyWorld.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Three Orlando-area theme park workers were suspended on Monday after an online sex sting operation in Polk County.

Twenty-one people were arrested in all, including two Disney employees, hospitality host George Auld III and ride operator Jason Lee Honeycutt. Universal CityWalk food-and-beverage employee Brian Stenstrup was also charged, WESH 2 News reported.

All three are jailed in Polk County on charges of attempting to solicit a minor for sex.

Investigators said the men carried on graphic online chats for months with those who they believed were young teenage boys or girls. When the men showed up at a Polk County house, they were arrested.

Disney released a statement that said the workers have been placed on administrative leave without pay, and the statement went on to say that Disney has required background checks for all new hires since the mid-1990s.

2006-06-27T16:10:00.000-04:00

Can two political subdivisions jointly accept an easement?

2006-06-27T11:29:00.000-04:00

Fragile victim, mighty lesson.

Read this article. Have tissues in hand. I promise you won't regret it.

2006-06-27T11:18:00.000-04:00

"Judge Orders Doctors To Proceed With Toddler's Surgery"

When I see headlines like this, I automatically stop and read the article. While I can contemplate the theoretical nature of these situations, I wonder how I would feel if I were in the place of the parents of the child.

As I read the story, I couldn't quite figure out who was "right."

I was a little frightened by the restriction placed on the father's visitation...Rogers, Riley's dad, doesn't object to the surgery, but he can only visit his son four hours a week under heavy supervision.

So this child...this BABY...is in a hospital all alone? with little contact with family? undergoing a surgical procedure with no mommy or daddy to hold him and assure him everything will be all right?

Then I read the last line of the article..."The surgery would implant a catheter into Riley's abdomen that would then be used for dialysis if it became medically necessary."

I am horrified.

This judge is removing parental rights and forcing surgery on a baby...surgery that is not yet medically necessary???

Either there is more to this story or the best interests standard has run off course here.

2006-06-23T14:28:00.000-04:00

Because I think good things need to be spoken about more often...and because I was a Girl Scout myself and have very fond memories (except for maybe that time when Donna photographed me in the camp outhouse in a less than flattering pose)...

37 earn Girl Scouting's highest honor

I encourage you to read all of these...I personally am well and truly impressed with the level of community service involved in these projects.

Congratulations ladies!

Thirty-seven members of the Girl Scouts Hornets' Nest Council recently earned their Gold Awards. The award is the highest honor in Girl Scouts. The girls did various community-service projects to earn the award.

• Becky Ausband created an indoor arena at Joshua's Farm. She redesigned a space in a storage barn so riders could continue therapy during cold, windy or inclement weather. She is the daughter of Terry and Vernon Ausband.

• Katie Baker created a health fair targeting girls ages 9-12. Katie recruited professionals, friends and other Girl Scouts as guest speakers, to discuss topics such as hair care, makeup, first aid and self-defense. She is the daughter of William and Barbara Baker.

• Elizabeth Cook worked with the Lacey family to create a community Christmas lights display. She also collected 82 pairs of used eyeglasses for the Lions Club of Mint Hill. Cook expanded her project to include other items for local ministries: 10,000 cans of food to Jackson Park Ministries' food pantry and 65 coats each to Jackson Park, Florence Crittendon Services and Crisis Assistance Ministry. She is the daughter Tommy and Vickey Cook.

• Aubrey Crowder helped create Camp Oasis, a camp for kids while their parents were at Shriner events. The camp included movies, games, crafts, meals and snacks. It was a free service. She is the daughter of Bertie Crowder.

• Alyssa Cummins and Jamie Ingram planned the annual Father-Daughter dance in the Meck 7 District. With help from volunteers, they transformed Independence High into "A Night on the Red Carpet." More than 400 people attended. Cummings is the daughter of Amy Cummins. Ingram is the daughter of J.W. and Mary Ann Ingram.

• Binta Dixon organized a diversity fair for girls. She planned a day where young girls got a broader view of beauty and could discuss image issues. She is the daughter of Norma Culbreth and Joseph Dixon.

• Elizabeth Dobson provided knit hats for cancer patients receiving treatments at Northeast Medical Center. She delivered more than 300 hats. She is the daughter of Allen and Martha Dobson.

• Alex Fadel helped plan Camp Oasis; games and activities in a hospitality room for the burn patients at the Shriners Hospital. The room was a waiting area for families. Children could do crafts, watch movies and play games. She is the daughter of Shea and Sandra Fadel.

• Chelsea Gerhard made an author quilt to inspire children to read. She mailed fabric squares to various children's authors, asking them to autograph and return them along with answers to a list of questions. She also created a notebook with the authors' biographies, their letters to her and lists of books they'd written. Gerhard took the quilt and notebook to schools and libraries and presented a program on reading. She is the daughter of Geoff and Lori Gerhard.

• Karly Hahn designed and painted an outdoor mural at the Messiah Preschool. She worked with volunteers and artist consultants to repair and prep the area for painting. She is the daughter of Greg and Kristin Hahn.

• Lea-Ann Hamby and Mindy Hopkins developed brochures and posters to tell taxicab drivers how to be safe in their vehicles -- from when to pick up a person to keeping up with regular maintenance for the vehicle. They presented the information to drivers at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. The information is being used statewide. Hamby is the daughter of Judy Hamby. Hopkins is the daughter of Robert and Susan Hopkins.

• Jenna Harper started an Adam's Animals chapter in Charlotte, in memory of her sister Morgan. Adam's Animals is an organization that provides stuffed animals for children and teens with cancer. She set up a drive at her school and collected more than 300 stuffed animals. She is the daughter of Mike and Bert Harper.

• Raquel Hoover opened a children's library at her church. Volunteers cleared a room, built bookshelves and decorated the walls for kids. They furnished the library with more than 300 donated books. She is the daughter of Richard and Sandra Hoover.

• Jessica Kanna made blankets for the children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers made flyers asking for materials to make the blankets. Working with Project Linus, they made 28 blankets and donated them to babies and small children at a Mississippi shelter. She is the daughter of Thomas and Marya Kanna.

• Lauren Kanna recorded books on tape for the visually impaired, with an emphasis on fifth and sixth grade reading levels. Lauren recorded 22 books. She delivered the books and tapes to the Metrolina Association for the Blind. She is the daughter of Thomas and Marya Kanna.

• Elena Klund brought the church youth group to the Urban Ministry Center and St. Peter's Soup Kitchen to educate them on homelessness and to serve lunch at the soup kitchen. She coordinated efforts throughout the year: hundreds of candy bags for Valentine's Day, cookies for dessert, sandwiches and hamburger casseroles for lunch and bread for Sunday dinner. She also started a toiletry drive at her church. She is the daughter of Tim and Evelyn Klund.

• Christine Lawson developed an herb-and-vegetable garden and exhibit for the Nature Museum in Charlotte. The gardens are being used as an exhibit and to raise food for the animals that live at the museum. She set up a schedule for groups to maintain the gardens and instructed museum staff of how to care for them. She also created a brochure about the herbs. She is the daughter of Tim and Mary Lou Lawson.

• Sarah Leach did several projects at Camp Tekoa, a Methodist Camp that she's attended. She built fences around several propane tanks and made a sign for the exit of the camp. She is the daughter of Matthew and Laura Leach.

• Megan Louya helped preserve the words on many gravestones damaged by acid rain and vandalism at Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church. She created rubbings from the pre-Civil War era cemetery that will be included in the historical room at the church. She is the daughter of William and Penny Louya.

• Kayla McCormick taught classmates about different German holidays. She researched four holidays and made a class presentation and Web site for the students to view. During the presentations, she made crafts and served snacks. She is the daughter of Garry and Jan McCormick.

• Deana Messer created a Valentine Brownie Olympics. She wanted to create a fun event where Brownies could learn sportsmanship and build self-esteem. Her event included the long jump, 10-meter dash and jump rope. Her goal was for Brownies to cheer on each other and boost their self-confidence. She is the daughter of Denise Brissie.

• Danielle Mingus collected 500 new baby items for homeless shelters in her area. Volunteers collected things for the Salvation Army and the women's shelter. The items were assembled for new mother kits. She is the daughter of Terry Richards.

• Christine O'Brien hosted an Adolescent Health Fair, focusing on obesity. The fair was at her church's family center. Students talked with health instructors about eating habits. Young people also tried activities, games, healthy foods and exercise. She is the daughter of Joseph and Nancy O'Brien.

• Erin Petruso made fleece Blankets of Love for needy children. She made 111 blankets for the Family Center and the Battered Women's Shelter. She organized two separate sleepovers to teach others how to make the blankets. She is the daughter of Jon and Ann Petruso.

• Leann Presley coordinated a school supplies drive for Classroom Central, an organization that allows teachers to select free supplies for students who cannot afford to buy their own. She motivated friends, family, fellow church members and neighbors to contribute more than 1,000 pounds of school supplies. She is the daughter of Clay and Carol Presley.

• Kylie Rethage collected items for activity kits for 100 juvenile burn victims. The children are from the Carolinas, Virginia and Ohio. Volunteers collected games, playing cards, puzzles, books, crayons, markers, CDs and more. The children can use the kits waiting to see their doctors. She is the daughter of Chris and Mica Minor.

• Chelsea Robertson and Vicky Spisak designed a plan to restore land at the Catawba Land Conservatory. Robertson led bench construction and helped establish the major trail design. Spisak worked with representatives from the conservancy and the Town of Weddington to develop a master plan for the property. She recruited other Girl and Boy Scouts to continue the work of the small natural park. Chelsea is the daughter of Ron and Lauren Robertson. Vicky is the daughter of Mark and Ginny Spisak.

• Amanda Rushing assembled spa and care packages for the women and children at the Hope Haven battered women's shelter. She assembled 41 large spa bags and 15 child bags; she wanted to make the public aware of domestic violence in the community. She is the daughter of Ray and Debbie Rushing.

• Halli Sigal made a video of Holocaust survivors currently living in the Charlotte area. She had survivors tell their stories. She is the daughter of Marvin Sigal and Margie Sigal.

• Sarah Smith organized an Earth Saver's Fair to promote environmental awareness. Topics presented at the fair include resource use and conservation, water pollution, car emissions and smog. She is the daughter of Randy and Peggy Smith.

• Amanda Tamayo completed 71 books on tape/CD and turned them in to the Child Life Center at Carolinas Medical Center. When she delivered the books, she read with the children. She is the daughter of Ruben and Martha Tamayo.

• Lauren Teddy helped the Shriners Children's Hospitals. She helped create Camp Oasis for children while their parents were at Shriners events. It was a weekend in November. She planned crafts, games and meals for the children. She is the daughter of Daryl and Karen Teddy.

• Katherine Webber collected sneakers for a "poverty stricken" area in Kentucky. Volunteers collected and cleaned 250 pairs of sneakers of all sizes. They contacted St. Gabriel Catholic Church, which agreed to deliver the shoes and other items during its mission trip. She is the daughter of Peggy Webber.

• Kristin Wetherby wrote, directed and produced a play called "The Christmas Shoes," based on the book and song of the same name. She arranged for a videographer and a sign language interpreter for the performance. She also collected donated shoes and delivered 125 pairs to Crisis Assistance Ministry. She is the daughter of Tim and Jennifer Wetherby.

• Becky Ausband created an indoor arena at Joshua's Farm. She redesigned a space in a storage barn so riders could continue therapy during cold, windy or inclement weather. She is the daughter of Terry and Vernon Ausband.

• Katie Baker created a health fair targeting girls ages 9-12. Katie recruited professionals, friends and other Girl Scouts as guest speakers, to discuss topics such as hair care, makeup, first aid and self-defense. She is the daughter of William and Barbara Baker.

• Elizabeth Cook worked with the Lacey family to create a community Christmas lights display. She also collected 82 pairs of used eyeglasses for the Lions Club of Mint Hill. Cook expanded her project to include other items for local ministries: 10,000 cans of food to Jackson Park Ministries' food pantry and 65 coats each to Jackson Park, Florence Crittendon Services and Crisis Assistance Ministry. She is the daughter Tommy and Vickey Cook.

• Aubrey Crowder helped create Camp Oasis, a camp for kids while their parents were at Shriner events. The camp included movies, games, crafts, meals and snacks. It was a free service. She is the daughter of Bertie Crowder.

• Alyssa Cummins and Jamie Ingram planned the annual Father-Daughter dance in the Meck 7 District. With help from volunteers, they transformed Independence High into "A Night on the Red Carpet." More than 400 people attended. Cummings is the daughter of Amy Cummins. Ingram is the daughter of J.W. and Mary Ann Ingram.

• Binta Dixon organized a diversity fair for girls. She planned a day where young girls got a broader view of beauty and could discuss image issues. She is the daughter of Norma Culbreth and Joseph Dixon.

• Elizabeth Dobson provided knit hats for cancer patients receiving treatments at Northeast Medical Center. She delivered more than 300 hats. She is the daughter of Allen and Martha Dobson.

• Alex Fadel helped plan Camp Oasis; games and activities in a hospitality room for the burn patients at the Shriners Hospital. The room was a waiting area for families. Children could do crafts, watch movies and play games. She is the daughter of Shea and Sandra Fadel.

• Chelsea Gerhard made an author quilt to inspire children to read. She mailed fabric squares to various children's authors, asking them to autograph and return them along with answers to a list of questions. She also created a notebook with the authors' biographies, their letters to her and lists of books they'd written. Gerhard took the quilt and notebook to schools and libraries and presented a program on reading. She is the daughter of Geoff and Lori Gerhard.

• Karly Hahn designed and painted an outdoor mural at the Messiah Preschool. She worked with volunteers and artist consultants to repair and prep the area for painting. She is the daughter of Greg and Kristin Hahn.

• Lea-Ann Hamby and Mindy Hopkins developed brochures and posters to tell taxicab drivers how to be safe in their vehicles -- from when to pick up a person to keeping up with regular maintenance for the vehicle. They presented the information to drivers at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. The information is being used statewide. Hamby is the daughter of Judy Hamby. Hopkins is the daughter of Robert and Susan Hopkins.

• Jenna Harper started an Adam's Animals chapter in Charlotte, in memory of her sister Morgan. Adam's Animals is an organization that provides stuffed animals for children and teens with cancer. She set up a drive at her school and collected more than 300 stuffed animals. She is the daughter of Mike and Bert Harper.

• Raquel Hoover opened a children's library at her church. Volunteers cleared a room, built bookshelves and decorated the walls for kids. They furnished the library with more than 300 donated books. She is the daughter of Richard and Sandra Hoover.

• Jessica Kanna made blankets for the children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers made flyers asking for materials to make the blankets. Working with Project Linus, they made 28 blankets and donated them to babies and small children at a Mississippi shelter. She is the daughter of Thomas and Marya Kanna.

• Lauren Kanna recorded books on tape for the visually impaired, with an emphasis on fifth and sixth grade reading levels. Lauren recorded 22 books. She delivered the books and tapes to the Metrolina Association for the Blind. She is the daughter of Thomas and Marya Kanna.

• Elena Klund brought the church youth group to the Urban Ministry Center and St. Peter's Soup Kitchen to educate them on homelessness and to serve lunch at the soup kitchen. She coordinated efforts throughout the year: hundreds of candy bags for Valentine's Day, cookies for dessert, sandwiches and hamburger casseroles for lunch and bread for Sunday dinner. She also started a toiletry drive at her church. She is the daughter of Tim and Evelyn Klund.

• Christine Lawson developed an herb-and-vegetable garden and exhibit for the Nature Museum in Charlotte. The gardens are being used as an exhibit and to raise food for the animals that live at the museum. She set up a schedule for groups to maintain the gardens and instructed museum staff of how to care for them. She also created a brochure about the herbs. She is the daughter of Tim and Mary Lou Lawson.

• Sarah Leach did several projects at Camp Tekoa, a Methodist Camp that she's attended. She built fences around several propane tanks and made a sign for the exit of the camp. She is the daughter of Matthew and Laura Leach.

• Megan Louya helped preserve the words on many gravestones damaged by acid rain and vandalism at Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church. She created rubbings from the pre-Civil War era cemetery that will be included in the historical room at the church. She is the daughter of William and Penny Louya.

• Kayla McCormick taught classmates about different German holidays. She researched four holidays and made a class presentation and Web site for the students to view. During the presentations, she made crafts and served snacks. She is the daughter of Garry and Jan McCormick.

• Deana Messer created a Valentine Brownie Olympics. She wanted to create a fun event where Brownies could learn sportsmanship and build self-esteem. Her event included the long jump, 10-meter dash and jump rope. Her goal was for Brownies to cheer on each other and boost their self-confidence. She is the daughter of Denise Brissie.

• Danielle Mingus collected 500 new baby items for homeless shelters in her area. Volunteers collected things for the Salvation Army and the women's shelter. The items were assembled for new mother kits. She is the daughter of Terry Richards.

• Christine O'Brien hosted an Adolescent Health Fair, focusing on obesity. The fair was at her church's family center. Students talked with health instructors about eating habits. Young people also tried activities, games, healthy foods and exercise. She is the daughter of Joseph and Nancy O'Brien.

• Erin Petruso made fleece Blankets of Love for needy children. She made 111 blankets for the Family Center and the Battered Women's Shelter. She organized two separate sleepovers to teach others how to make the blankets. She is the daughter of Jon and Ann Petruso.

• Leann Presley coordinated a school supplies drive for Classroom Central, an organization that allows teachers to select free supplies for students who cannot afford to buy their own. She motivated friends, family, fellow church members and neighbors to contribute more than 1,000 pounds of school supplies. She is the daughter of Clay and Carol Presley.

• Kylie Rethage collected items for activity kits for 100 juvenile burn victims. The children are from the Carolinas, Virginia and Ohio. Volunteers collected games, playing cards, puzzles, books, crayons, markers, CDs and more. The children can use the kits waiting to see their doctors. She is the daughter of Chris and Mica Minor.

• Chelsea Robertson and Vicky Spisak designed a plan to restore land at the Catawba Land Conservatory. Robertson led bench construction and helped establish the major trail design. Spisak worked with representatives from the conservancy and the Town of Weddington to develop a master plan for the property. She recruited other Girl and Boy Scouts to continue the work of the small natural park. Chelsea is the daughter of Ron and Lauren Robertson. Vicky is the daughter of Mark and Ginny Spisak.

• Amanda Rushing assembled spa and care packages for the women and children at the Hope Haven battered women's shelter. She assembled 41 large spa bags and 15 child bags; she wanted to make the public aware of domestic violence in the community. She is the daughter of Ray and Debbie Rushing.

• Halli Sigal made a video of Holocaust survivors currently living in the Charlotte area. She had survivors tell their stories. She is the daughter of Marvin Sigal and Margie Sigal.

• Sarah Smith organized an Earth Saver's Fair to promote environmental awareness. Topics presented at the fair include resource use and conservation, water pollution, car emissions and smog. She is the daughter of Randy and Peggy Smith.

• Amanda Tamayo completed 71 books on tape/CD and turned them in to the Child Life Center at Carolinas Medical Center. When she delivered the books, she read with the children. She is the daughter of Ruben and Martha Tamayo.

• Lauren Teddy helped the Shriners Children's Hospitals. She helped create Camp Oasis for children while their parents were at Shriners events. It was a weekend in November. She planned crafts, games and meals for the children. She is the daughter of Daryl and Karen Teddy.

• Katherine Webber collected sneakers for a "poverty stricken" area in Kentucky. Volunteers collected and cleaned 250 pairs of sneakers of all sizes. They contacted St. Gabriel Catholic Church, which agreed to deliver the shoes and other items during its mission trip. She is the daughter of Peggy Webber.

• Kristin Wetherby wrote, directed and produced a play called "The Christmas Shoes," based on the book and song of the same name. She arranged for a videographer and a sign language interpreter for the performance. She also collected donated shoes and delivered 125 pairs to Crisis Assistance Ministry. She is the daughter of Tim and Jennifer Wetherby.

2006-06-23T14:19:00.000-04:00

State officials who run California's juvenile justice system are unconstitutionally denying prompt hearings and lawyers to youthful offenders arrested on alleged parole violations, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Sacramento federal court.

"We are developing plans that address the issues raised in the lawsuit," Ludeman said. But, she stressed, "We have not acknowledged that our current practices are unconstitutional."

Not quite my favorite quote of all time...but definitely up there on the scale of absurdity. Remediation without admission of wrongdoing...hehehe. God, I love the law.

2006-06-23T14:17:00.000-04:00

We lived in Terre Haute, Indiana for a while. I can understand why they need CASA volunteers.

2006-06-20T11:14:00.000-04:00

Operation 400 blasts off in a bid to solve baby deaths
Thursday, 15 June 2006

MANY community members will swallow their pride and don a red nose on June 30 in a bid to solve the mysterious tragedy of Australia's stillbirths.

SIDS and Kids is launching 'Operation 400' as part of its 2006 Red Nose Day campaign.

Several Kalgoorlie-Boulder businesses are getting behind the fundraising event by selling Red Nose Day merchandise.

These include Coles, Harvey Norman, Hannans Foodmart, Guardian, Amcal and Friendlies pharmacies and local primary schools.

Red noses will sell for $2 each, bubble clocks for $10, pens for $5, Superhero bears for $7, pins for $5, awareness bracelets for $3 and yo-yos for $5.

SIDS and Kids Western Australia marketing manager Dee Taseff said the significance of ‘Operation 400' was that it focused on the number of mystery stillbirths that occurred annually and investigated its causes.

"Each year, on average, about 1300 babies are stillborn across the country and about 400 of those deaths cannot be explained, even after investigation and autopsies," she said.

"That's about one baby every day that dies in a mystery stillbirth.

"Losing a child is always heart wrenching, but not knowing why it's happened can be all the more traumatic."

Ms Taseff said Operation 400 would help piece together the puzzle of these tragedies by researching possible links between common viruses and stillbirth.

"Just as research and education programs have helped us win the war against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), we believe it can also help us bring down the high rates of stillbirth in Australia."

In the past 20 years, SIDS and Kids has injected more than $15 million into efforts to reduce SIDS.

Those programs have led to a 90 per cent reduction in the number of SIDS deaths, saving the lives of more than 4500 babies.

"We're relying on the support of all Western Australians during Red Nose Day 2006 as we continue to tackle SIDS and other unexpected deaths, such as stillbirths," Ms Taseff said.

SIDS and Kids WA offers support to anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or child. This includes losses through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death and accidents.

Along with education programs and research, money raised through Red Nose Day also funds the provision of free professional grief counselling (call 9474 3544 during office hours) and a 24-hour, seven-day peer support line to assist people who have lost a child from conception to the age of 12.

Phone 1 800 686 780 for this free service.

2006-06-20T10:55:00.000-04:00

Balance of power?

OK...I know I'm a product of Schoolhouse Rock and all the idealism that it presented. But something about the funding of the court system, from top to bottom, just doesn't sit well with me. The court is not employed by the commissioners, judicial is not an employee of legislative, but yet the budget is news in more than one county. Costs and availability of funds seem to drive the decision-making process much more than the suitability of options for juveniles in need. I've even seen it at work in my own county, at the common pleas level, so I'm sure it runs the entire spectrum of the court system. It just leaves me wondering who really is in control and how are they making the decisions?

A happy ending

2006-06-13T09:27:00.000-04:00

Abaondoned as a baby, now she's a graduate.

Vitamin E linked to stillbirth

2006-06-12T16:43:00.000-04:00

Article
----------------------------
"However, earlier research has suggested that vitamin E, particularly taken with vitamin C, can help protect against miscarriage and pre-eclampsia.

The London study and separate research in Australia - published in The Lancet and the New England Journal of Medicine - now suggest this is untrue.

Doctors at St Thomas' Hospital conducted a two-year trial on 2,400 pregnant women at risk of pre-eclampsia.

Some took 250mg of vitamin E and 1,000mg of vitamin C each day from 14 weeks until they gave birth.

Those women who took the high doses, which were typical to those found in supplements, developed pre-eclampsia sooner and had a more severe form of the illness.

Nineteen babies were stillborn to mothers taking vitamin E supplements, compared with just seven in the group which did not take the pills.

In addition, the birthweight of the babies whose mothers had taken the vitamins was on average 60g less than the placebo group. "
----------------------------
It is amazing to me that in this day and age we really know so little about women's health, and pregnancy in particular.

Had to go back a bit for this one

2006-06-07T11:54:00.000-04:00

Had to go back a bit for this one...

But I remembered (and have to blog about) seeing the story of the 14-year-old witness being jailed, without benefit of a hearing, in order to insure her appearance in court. The girl had previously run away to avoid having to testify against her alleged molester. She wound up in an adult jail because a juvenile judge said she couldn't be held in a juvenile detention facility without being charged with a crime. The Ohio 9th District Court of Appeals overturned the Common Pleas Judge's decision.

The decision to free her was written by appellate Judge Lynn Slaby, who said case law was so clear, no further hearings were necessary to reach a decision. Slaby said the girl was being illegally held in an adult jail and should have been given a hearing before she was sent to jail.
source

The alleged molester was ultimately acquitted of the charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

On the witness stand...the girl admitted lying about her age to the defendant as well as to others. She said she told people she was 16 or 17 years old. She also acknowledged that she had at other times lied about what happened inside her Norton home.

Appointed counsel in Juvenile Court

2006-06-07T11:52:00.000-04:00

A Salem woman trying to regain custody of her children asked an appeals court to order Juvenile Court Judge Thomas Baronzzi to appoint counsel to represent her, at county expense.

It's just the way Ohio is set up

2006-06-07T11:30:00.000-04:00

Here is a relatively interesting read about child support and "the court system" in Ohio. I find the push-pull viewpoints to be quite sad. But it is typical of the "that's just the way it is" attitude I see in local and state government.

Re-entry Roadmap: A 25 Point Strategy Toward Restoration

2006-06-07T11:20:00.000-04:00

Ohio Department of Youth Services to undergo changes for "juvenile parolees."

The state's juvenile prisons are trying to develop a better way to prepare youths for life after their release because about half are locked up again within three years.

Providing the youths more job training, help finding employment and mentors to offer advice are among the planned changes at the Department of Youth Services, according to a report released Monday.

Snarky comment to follow...
You mean you can't just turn a juvenile offender loose and expect them to magically turn into a good citizen?!?!?! I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you!

Oh...and my favorite headline..."
State to try new ideas to reduce youth prison recidivism."
REALLY? NEW ideas?!?!?! Again, I'm shocked!!!
End of snarky comment.

I'm back, part deux

2006-06-07T09:03:00.000-04:00

OK...going to give this academic blogging one more try. It should give my brain some exercise away from the emotional junk that fills it up most of the time. Watch out blawgers...I'm back (again)!

Rant Alert: Angry Mommy at Law

2006-03-21T20:47:00.000-05:00

A very small article from Thursday's PD states that one of the candidates for Juvenile Court Judge was removed from the ballot for using her maiden name.

The candidate, Jennifer Martinez, has issued a news release on her website.

So let me get this straight.

A woman is not legally required to change her name upon marriage--I think we can all agree that would be fairly blatant gender discrimination.

Attorney Martinez filed her petitions using the only name she legally possesses.

The Board of Elections gave her bad advice about the use of her name.

The attorney who filed the protest did not file in the proper place but the protest happened to be "in the building" on time. (Attorneys being the people who are supposed to know the proper places for filing things.)

I am astounded at the absurdity. It would almost be comical except that it removes a well qualified attorney from the ballot.

This is so clearly not a case of a person choosing to run on a politically advantageous name. How can this even be categorized as her "maiden name" if she chose not to change her name. What do they consider to be the last name of a married male?

I hope that the Court of Appeals corrects this situation so that Attorney Martinez can focus on running for Juvenile Judge.

2005-10-18T21:42:00.000-04:00

Well at least this quiz thinks I got it right:

You Should Get a JD (Juris Doctor)

You're logical, driven, and ruthless.You'd make a mighty fine lawyer.

What Advanced Degree Should You Get?

2005-09-19T14:14:00.000-04:00

A new kind of juvenile crime.

I've got to give them credit for ingenuity, at least. I mean, it's not your typical juvenile offense. And I suspect that the 44 year old and the 19 year old had some influence that caused the 14 year old to engage in such activity.

2005-09-16T15:15:00.000-04:00

Mandatory learning disability testing for Juvenile Detention Center admittees.

Thoughts?

My take...

This is key...Zahn will provide parents and the Cleveland school district with the psychologists' findings.

The same schools that don't have enough money to pay staff or time to address all of the many issues that their students face. So the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court is going to diagnose (aka label) and then cut them loose into the care of the school? I'm sorry, but this doesn't sound like that great of a plan.

And parental responsibility? You don't even want to go there with a lot of these parents. I worked in abuse, neglect, dependency cases for three years...prental responsibility is a pipe dream.

Again, the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court shows that it doesn't fully comprehend the situation these children face every day. And again, in an effort to get good press, they're looking like they're doing something...without really doing much.

2005-09-16T15:13:00.000-04:00

As someone who spent the better part of the past four months in a cemetery, I find some good justice in this punishment.

I hope they learn something.

2005-09-16T14:59:00.000-04:00

Even when I take time off from blogging, this crap is still going on.

My question is this...is protection really a valid reason for locking your children up in cages?!?!? Do these people think that makes it better?!?!

And shame on Children and Family Services and the Sheriff's Department for failing to investigate.

I'm appalled.

2005-09-16T14:54:00.000-04:00

House OKs tougher penalties for child sex offenders

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Jim Abrams
Associated Press

Washington - Child sex offenders would be subject to stringent monitoring requirements and face new mandatory penalties under a House-passed bill that was expanded to include protections for gays and lesbians under federal hate crime law.

The House voted 371-52 Wednesday in favor of the Children's Safety Act, which, among its many provisions, creates a national Web site for child sex offenders and stipulates that sex felons face up to 20 years in prison for failing to comply with registration requirements.

Only two Ohio lawmakers voted against the bill: Cleveland Democratic Reps. Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Dennis Kucinich.

Unexpectedly, the House voted 223-199 in favor of an amendment by Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, that expands current hate crime law to include some crimes involving sexual orientation, gender and disability. Under current law, the federal government assists local and state authorities prosecuting limited types of crimes based on the victim's race, religion or ethnic background.

The Ohioans split along party lines on that part of the bill, with Democrats voting in favor and Republicans voting against it.

The sex offender bill requires felony offenders to register for life and authorizes the death penalty for sex crimes resulting in the killing of a child. The bill responds to what House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Republican, said was a "national crisis" in child sex offenses. He said that of some 550,000 convicted sex offenders in the nation, the whereabouts of 100,000 are unknown.

Sensenbrenner said the legislation would get favorable treatment in the Senate and he expected it to be signed into law by the end of the year.

The White House, in a statement, expressed support, saying that even though sex crimes against children have declined significantly in recent years, more needs to be done.

Among provisions of the bill:

It creates a national Web site and requires states to notify the federal government of any changes to a sex offender's registration information. States are required to notify each other when a sex offender moves from one state to another.

It requires each state to maintain a statewide Internet site to include such information as an offender's address, picture, vehicle and facts of his conviction.

It broadens the category of sex offenders to include any felony or misdemeanor sex offenses against minors. The category of crimes covered by the bill is expanded to include juvenile sex offenses and possession of child pornography.

Felony sex offenders will have to register for life, and misdemeanor sex offenders for 20 years.

It ensures mandatory minimum sentences for violent crimes against children, ranging from death or life imprisonment when a child is killed and 30 years in prison for crimes involving kidnapping, maiming or aggravated sexual abuse.

It expands the use of DNA evidence to solve sex crimes.

2005-09-16T14:53:00.000-04:00

I'm baaaaack!

After months of really bad things happening in my personal life, I'm going to give this professional blogging thing one more try.

Stick with me...I'll start off slow...but hopefully pick up the pace as I get rolling again.

2005-03-07T11:35:00.000-05:00

Victims Sue Thailand, U.S., Accor Over Tsunami

You're kidding me, right?

2005-03-01T15:43:00.000-05:00

Death penalty for juveniles ruled unconstitutional.

"The age of 18 is the point where society draws the line for many purposes between childhood and adulthood. It is, we conclude, the age at which the line for death eligibility ought to rest," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote.

We are FINALLY distanced from countries like Iran, Pakistan, China and Saudi Arabia. Hard to believe we kept such company for so long.

2005-02-25T15:11:00.000-05:00

Boo hiss! The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office thinks they have to BUY a dog for their K9 unit. I think maybe I might have to drop them a line about the value of rescue animals. I even know a rescue that trains for police departments. Heck of a lot cheaper...and you're not contributing to puppy mill business. Think about it.

2005-02-25T15:07:00.000-05:00

Isn't this an strange predicament? By suing to end her ex-lover’s right to visitation with her son, a gay mom is essentially going against what the gay community fought when it protested passage of Issue One. She thought it was valid at the time...now she argues it isn't. I don't know that this is so much about gay marriage as it is about this mother's ability to make up her mind.

2005-02-25T15:03:00.000-05:00

While I can admire the personal respect Morrow County Prosecutor Charles Howland was trying to give the family, I have to wonder why he doesn't just get into the journalism business if he's so worried about making ethical decisions on what to air. You can't interject personal respect into the law when it suits you...any good lawyer knows that.

2005-02-25T14:59:00.000-05:00

An interesting twist of events in Sandusky County.

I've seen this before...in fact our county is falling victim to it right now. The court orders their budget paid (or whatever other order they feel like making), and every other office is left with a gaping hole of a defecit that they simply cannot deal with. Massive layoffs are a result.

Now I have to ask...what good does it do to make orders that insure the full-time operation of a court, if the result means layoffs to the sheriffs and prosecutors? The court can operate however it wants...but if there's nobody to get the bad guys there, then they're going to be operating to an empty house, aren't they?

I know this one in Sandusky is more about courthouse space. But it seems a dangerous thing that judges are allowed to order whatever they see fit without regard to how they fit into the structure of the rest of the county.

2005-02-22T21:47:00.000-05:00

I've been sent to collections. Pregnancy brain caused me to forget making a payment on one of my loans last month and now the collections people are calling. You'd think they'd make some allowance for mistakes caused by lack of brain function...but Noooooo...they want their money.

2005-02-22T21:36:00.000-05:00

I need a job...again. If anyone wants to hire an attorney with one and a half years experience in the civil division of a prosecutor's office and three years experience in Juvenile Court court services, give me a shout. It seems the state's budget problems are my budget problems and my position will most likely be eliminated (I've heard this tune somewhere before, ME1). I don't require a big paycheck and I have a pretty solid research and writing background...plus courtroom and client counseling experience. Beg, beg, beg, beg, beg, beg...

2005-02-22T21:34:00.000-05:00

The Ashtabula County Commissioners have decided they're going to try to balance their budget by making some cuts.

Sounds great. Until today's news that they've voted to close down the youth detention center. Ashtabula County will have no place to put juvenile offenders pending adjudication. Why does this not sound right?

2005-02-15T13:49:00.000-05:00

I just want to see what happens to the blog when we post something after months of silence.

2004-11-01T20:31:00.000-05:00

Not endorsing anyone

However, since there are three Juvenile Court Judges races in Cuyahoga County, I thought I would give you some links so that you can make informed decisions.

Here are the Judicial Ratings from the various Bar Associations. Scroll down to find the Domestic and Juvenile Court Judges. Click on the names for more info.

You can find all the PD endorsements here.
Again, you'll need to scroll down to get to the Juvenile Court Judges.

Finally, you can access the Cuyahoga County League of Women Voters 2004 Voters Guide here.
Use the Local Elections pick list to see the Juvenile Court candidates' qualifications and their answer to a juvenile law issue.

With three Juvenile slots on the ballot, voters can really affect the juvenile bench and the direction the court will take. Think about it.

2004-10-29T14:14:00.000-04:00

I will try to follow the case of Peggy Fugate in Hamilton County, Ohio. She had her parental rights to her daughter terminated seven years ago and is now petitioning to adopt the girl who was never adopted and remains in foster care.

2004-10-29T14:11:00.000-04:00

When you type in the name of my county in a Google News search, you get mostly fishing reports. hmmmmm...

2004-10-25T15:52:00.000-04:00

Do you know all the candidates for office where you live and vote? I don't. And I find it disturbing that our local newspaper is doing nothing to help out the average citizen.

But then again, the Cleveland Plain Dealer can't even decide who to endorse for President. The editorial staff reportedly wants to endorse Kerry and the publisher wants to endorse Bush. Who do you think will win?

2004-10-25T15:38:00.000-04:00

So what do you do when you have no hope of winning an election in Cleveland? Why change your name to Russo and you're all set.

Talk about laughable political ploys.

2004-10-25T15:32:00.000-04:00

If you have been following the case of Aiden Stein, then you know that his case goes before the Ohio Supreme Court for argument over whether an appointed guardian should have the authority to withdraw life support, which will most likely result in Aiden's death. While I appreciate the news attempts to follow this story, I think the quoting of a professor in Medicine Law is missing the mark just a bit. Why nothing from FAMILY LAW experts? This isn't merely a medical issue...but one of parental rights and responsibilities, juvenile rights, and potential criminal consequences.

2004-09-30T13:24:00.000-04:00

Is it an ethical violation for an attorney to say that sometimes the Ohio Supreme Court is a bunch of wimps? Does that fall under the category of judicial criticism that is supposed to be a discipline-worthy offense?

I have been following the case of the man who owed $38,000 in child support (he fathered seven children by five different mothers). He was found guilty of a criminal offense for failure to pay and was ordered not to father any more children. Of course, the case went on appeal all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court. Rather than simply address the fundamental issue of whether such a sentence is constitutional, the Ohio Supreme Court, in all its wisdom, sent the case back to the trial judge on the grounds that no escape provision had been set that would allow the father to end the restriction (perhaps upon paying his obligation). So the trial judge is going to get another crack at it. What do you think he might do? I guess it will depend on whether he's as irritated by the Ohio Supreme Court's refusal to tackle the tough issues as I am.

2004-09-30T13:14:00.000-04:00

I am not a Bush supporter...I'll freely admit it...but this sort of thing really bothers me. A police officer can not have a political bumper sticker in his car/truck if it sits in the city parking lot?!?!?! First, this case presumes that everyone who walks by will know that this car belongs to a police officer. I have no idea what the police officers in my courthouse drive...and quite frankly I don't care. Second, when did it become political to voice your support of the President of the United States??? Or is it merely a time relative problem?

If this officer were wearing a pin on his person while at work, I could understand the problem. But his car making a political statement is an entirely different matter. And what happens if he decides to put a permanent sticker on his bumper, instead of just in the window. He can't drive the car to work anymore?!?!?! Is he not allowed to express his support of the President? Who can he express support for and who can he not? Can he put a World Wildlife Federation sticker on his car? What about those "my child is an honor student" stickers?

Repeat after me, oh great legal minds...slippery slope, slippery slope, slippery slope...

2004-09-30T13:07:00.000-04:00

I simply should not watch the news. But every time I happen to flip channels past a local news program already in progress, I just can not help but stop and watch. This past week I saw a story about a serial pet killer on the loose in my county , a story about a baby left in an alley in our state capitol, and a story about how Ohio is going to be the next Florida.

Oy! Somebody please take my remote control and hide it!

2004-09-27T20:58:00.000-04:00

Yowie

I am still breastfeeding my daughter. She and I are both pretty comfortable with it most of the time. However (and this may not be for the squeemish), during the few days leading up to and during menstruation, breastfeeding becomes excruciating and the amount produced from pumping plummets.

Knowing that I have periods while still breastfeeding my sister-in-law sent me this advice:

"For some women, the drop in milk supply and nipple tenderness associated with menstruation becomes more of a challenge. An effective treatment for these symptoms associated with the return of periods is to add a calcium/magnesium supplement to the diet upon ovulation and continue it through the second or third day of a period. The supplement should be 1500 calcium/750 magnesium but can be as low as 500 calcium/250 magnesium (the higher the dosage the more effective and quicker the results). It should be a combination pill. This much calcium should never be taken alone. If your cycles are not regular and you do not know when you ovulate, you can take the supplement the entire month until you begin to see a pattern to your flow. This type of supplement seems to work as it prevents the drop in blood calcium levels which occurs mid-cycle and continues through the second to third day of a period. It is this drop which is associated with the nipple tenderness and drop in milk supply as well as the uterine cramping so often experienced with menstruation. You only need to take one pill a day."

I have been taking the supplements as advised but my supply is still low. Nursing and pumping merely painful, rather than eye-popping, eye-watering painful. I guess that is an improvement.

Is this the best I can hope for until I no longer nurse or pump? Anyone out there have other advice?

2004-09-21T22:07:00.000-04:00

Seriously?

I receive some parenting newsletter via e-mail. Today I found this article regarding nudity around your children. The gist of it is that once the kid becomes self aware, it's time to cover up.

Now I'm not talking about being nudists while at home, but wouldn't we be sending the message that nakedness is bad and shameful by covering up? Isn't there some sort of balance between such a prudish view and developing a child's healthy sense of self and body image? How do you walk the line between teaching a child that some things are private and over-reacting so that they see naked bodies as wrong?

Do you think it depends on the gender of the child and the parent?

I definitely didn't find the article very thoughtful or helpful. I wonder if she's a Freudian psychologist?

2004-09-21T13:44:00.000-04:00

Did I mention that I broke my nose? It was an unfortunate meeting of my face with the very hard head of one of my dogs...he zigged when I zagged...and I was left seeing stars. But to tell you the kind of mom I have become, I immediately reached into the freezer and pulled out BooBoo Bear. I can only imagine the picture I made standing in my kitchen with little birdies and stars circling round my head with my son's BooBoo Bear stuck to my nose. Oh...and we unfortunately do not own the Blue's Clues version of this product...a fact which my son is more than willing to tell you all about if you give him the chance.

2004-09-21T13:34:00.000-04:00

I am working on arranging an animal rescue transport for this weekend that has particularly disturbed me. Actually, I'm arranging three transports for this weekend, but one has me thinking (and that is always a dangerous proposition). A mama dog (retriever/chow mix) and her five puppies were brought into the dog pound a few weeks ago. I won't mention which pound because I would like to maintain a working relationship with them. Anyway...the mama was allowed to nurse her puppies for the state-mandated six weeks and then the pups were all adopted out. The mama was left in the shelter and was scheduled to be put to sleep when a wonderful rescue saw her story and decided that she deserved better.

I am startled that this pound, overrun with dogs and cats, would adopt out the puppies without requiring that they be spayed or neutered. I am saddened that this mama is left to be put to sleep because she isn't a cute and cuddly puppy anymore. But more than that, I'm terribly afraid that at least one of these five puppies will find themselves in the exact same situation as their mama in just a year or two. There is no incentive for people to do the right thing anymore. Our country is filled with millions of unwanted pets...over four million are put to sleep each year. This mama and her puppies ALL deserve better from us, as responsible adults. Pardon me while I channel Bob Barker for a moment...PLEASE have your pet spayed or neutered.

OH...here is her picture...she's beautiful, don't you think?

2004-09-21T13:22:00.000-04:00

The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of Aiden Stein, the baby who is in a vegetative state (allegedly due to shaken baby syndrome caused by abuse by his father)...and whose case has held, up to this point, that a guardian may terminate life support for a minor (despite the parental rights not being terminated). It will be interesting to see how this case concludes. I'm not a Ohio Supreme Court expert and have no insight, so I can't even offer a guess.

2004-09-21T13:21:00.000-04:00

New mothers with fibromyalgia (FM) face multiple barriers to breast-feeding their babies, according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing.

2004-09-17T13:13:00.000-04:00

2004-09-17T13:06:00.000-04:00

find your inner PIE @ stvlive.com

2004-09-13T16:27:00.000-04:00

I figured out that ME1's obsession with purchasing cross-stitch supplies is not that strange. Why have I reached this conclusion, you may ask? Because I have found myself engaging in similar behavior patterns...but with scrapbooking materials. I have no idea where my obsession springs from. It seems to have come on quickly, like an aggressive disease for which there is no treatment.

When given ten free minutes to do with as I please, I choose to scrapbook. And in reality, those ten minute sessions are few and far between. But that does not stop me from buying up all the doo-dads that I can possibly afford for future use.

Yesterday, my illness progressed so far that I drove over an hour to a scrapbooking store, two-year-old AND husband in tow, just to buy some neat paper and stickers.

Do you think there are twelve-step groups for this kind of thing?

2004-09-13T16:23:00.000-04:00

I think perhaps this guy's message got a bit lost when he dressed himself up like Batman.

For those that don't have a NYTimes subscription online...

A group that advocates greater rights for fathers in child custody cases sent two of its operatives over the fence at Buckingham Palace today and one of them, dressed as Batman, scampered up a ladder to a ledge near the Queen's balcony, setting off a security alert and a tense standoff with police.

2004-09-07T15:16:00.000-04:00

I have a terrible time comparing myself to others.

I read my friend's blog and think, "Why can't I write like that?"

I see my friend interact with her child and think, "I need to be more like her as a mom."

I watch my co-worker in court and think, "How does she come up with those amazing legal arguments?" (Not to mention she looks fabulous in a dark suit while I look short and dumpy)

I often wonder if it's insecurity, like I've been telling myself for years, or if it's real and honest jealousy. Maybe I've been fooling myself thinking about my "shortcomings" and I'm just a small and petty person who is worried about what she doesn't have.

Everyone has their own gifts to share with the world...so why can't I just be happy with the ones I have?

2004-09-07T15:07:00.000-04:00

In answer to the BORED comment...if you find yourself at work and you're facing a stack of incoming research projects that do not excite you, it is EASY to find yourself spiraling down into the depths of boredom. I have LOTS to do...but I'm bored with all of it.

2004-09-02T14:25:00.000-04:00

I am BORED!!!

2004-08-31T15:23:00.000-04:00

A sharp drop in the number of Cleveland-area children being put into foster care is raising questions over whether Cuyahoga County officials may have been pulling too many children from their homes during the late 1990s.

2004-08-31T15:20:00.000-04:00

And this from the ewwwwwwww files.

2004-08-31T15:15:00.000-04:00

The biomechanics of the bra.

Interesting...I had no idea that WonderBras are out. And I had no idea so much was going into the new generation of bras. About time, I say.

2004-08-26T17:29:00.000-04:00

I just found the Center for Law and Social Policy and I can't stop reading their material. What a fabulous resource! Now...if only those in charge of running the country would read it.