Judge Joan Benge's removal from bench is effective immediately
By Jenny Hurwitz, The Times-PicayuneJudge Joan Benge's request for a hearing -- her final attempt to hang on to her 24th Judicial District seat and avoid removal from office -- was denied by the state Supreme Court, officials said Monday.Supreme Court spokeswoman Valerie Willard said that Benge's removal was effective immediately. The court is determining a replacement for the for

Dad tales of desperate and defeated, or deadbeat
By LESLIE CANNOLDNote: This author claims that economic stress and parental conflict in divorce is more harmful to children than "fatherlessness". She obviously hasn't studies the massive amount of data relating to children that have grown up without fathers.From Sydney, Australia.In recent weeks, I seem to have become a bloke magnet. Two weeks ago at the State Library cafe and one night last week at my usual watering hole, I’ve had men in my ear. Sweet men, sad men, vulnerable men – some recently divorced, others single for years – crooning variations on the same tragic tale. A tale about children they

Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
Last December, a state child-support enforcement officer in Vancouver made a startling discovery: The state of Washington had taken nearly $21,000 over 10 years from a father for child support he did not owe.Note: Amazing that someone actually got reimbersed!!!!By Jonathan MartinSeattle Times staff reporterLast December, a state child-support enforcement officer in Vancouver made a startling discovery: The state of Washington had taken nearly $21,000 over 10 years from a father f

DMV attorney is skating the lines of ethics
San Diego Courts Examiner - Gregory SmartMillions of Californians have their drivers license suspended for child support issues each year. In researching this subject I recently requested several items of information from the California Department of Motor Vehicles including:1. "Request the name of point of contact(s) who will be providing me this information on behalf of the state with their name, phone, e-mail, agency.2. "The process and guidelines for suspending driver’s licenses on Child Support cases.3. "The number of males in the state of California that currently have their Drivers License suspended as the result of a child s

Should push for mandatory paternity tests be abandoned?
By David A. LoveNote: Interesting Article! Although.....hmmmm? Well, there are pros and cons, thats for sure! Should paternity tests become mandatory for all newborn babies? A state legislator in Tennessee thinks so. This January, State Rep. G. A. Hardaway plans on reintroducing a bill he first presented last year that would require a paternity test before a father's name is listed on a birth certificate. Under the legislation, the state would pay the costs of the test if th