Is our family court meeting its’ responsibilities to our parents, our children, and to society? If not, what can be done to correct these problems? Please share your experiences and GRADE THE COURT.

"Add to this the vicious constitution of our county courts, self-appointed, self-continued, and holding their authorities for life, and with an impossibility of breaking in on the perpetual succession of any faction once possessed of the bench.”

Thomas Jefferson, reflecting on one perceived flaw in our Constitution - 1813

tstarkey - 27 September 2007 12:56 PM

Is our family court meeting its’ responsibilities to our parents, our children, and to society? If not, what can be done to correct these problems? Please share your experiences and GRADE THE COURT.

Please describe exactly what you think those responsibilities are and who you think empowered the court with those responsibilities.

Grade the courts? POLK County gets a “F”.

FlaMom1

Thank you for your response. I was beginning to think I was the only one who was dissatisfied with the Family Court in the 10th Judicial Circuit. At this point, your response does bring one question to my mind, however. When are these elections held? I rarely read about Judicial elections in our State in the paper. I do frequently hear that there are individuals appointed to judicial seats. When I do vote at the general elections, I will sometimes see where we have the choice of a rejection of Judges. Its seems a bit leading to call this an “election” doesn’t it? Perhaps, we should call this portion of the ballot a “rejection”?

Socrates

I am not shying away from your question, but I’m consulting my Quality Management Team and I’m.......thinking.

The elections may not be held for the judges- BUT THEY ARE FOR THE ONES that put them on the bench.

Socrates,
I’m still thinking...responsibilities of the Court...hmmm...I’m thinking Good Ol’ Boys… I’m thinking… Long term personal relationships.... I’m thinking Judicial Independence....I’m thinking...The judicial and legal profession regulates itself....I’m thinking the disciplinary process for Judges and lawyers...I’m thinking...about some of the responsibilities the Court and the legal profession in general has to our citizens and to our society. I haven’t quite got this part of it yet, but I’m thinking.

I forgot. I’m thinking about checks and balances...and, I’m thinking about a group of individuals running the third branch of our government who are largely unelected but are nominated for the positions by a group of individuals who are appointed themselves.

I AM FROM FLA. MY CHILDREN WERE BORN THERE. THE CASE IS STILL IN FLA, THAT TECHNICALLY DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION. MR. STARKEY, YOU AREN’T IN FLA EITHER!

MR STARKEY--
I QUESTION WHETHER YOUR COMMENTS ARE TRUE.

I used my name in this blog because I had no intention of ever bringing out the issues of the case in this public domain. However, there is a public record of my case on the internet at the Highlands County Clerk of Courts web site which can be queried with the information you currently have should you desire to do so. These records are also available for physical inspection for anyone who would have an interest. One caveat to the physical inspection however is that the information and correspondence most damaging to the victims and the Courts is censured through sealing by Judicial Officials.

tstarkey –
I’m not a fan of our judicial system, civil or criminal, and I’m not suggesting that they don’t have problems. But in fairness to both of them, they are market driven systems that are more of a barometer of societal decay than they are problem solvers. No matter what they do, somebody isn’t going to be happy. Victims want justice and criminals want mercy, two opposite goals. As for family court, people who seek redress in that forum have all too often repeatedly exercised very poor judgment in their personal relationships, family planning and lifestyles choices generally. Having made a mess of their own lives and not wanting to suffer the consequences of their bad choices, they want the courts to erase those consequences. When the courts don’t give them what want, they become angry at the system. I think it’s fair to ask if people who have committed crimes or who have made a mess of their personal lives are qualified to pass judgment on whatever branch of the judicial system they find themselves in contact with.
Respectfully S.

Socrates,
You are certainly a well-spoken individual and as impatient as I am to let my fingers fly on this keyboard, I’m going to think this through and I’ll refrain from making further comments on this board until I have responded to each statement that you have made. Thank you for your opinion and insight.