Tag: judicial accountability
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This Memorial Day, Let’s Remember All the Battles — Including the Ones Fought at Home
Memorial Day serves to honor service members who sacrificed their lives, yet many veterans face a hidden battle within the family court system, where biases often jeopardize their parental rights and mental health. Advocating for reform can help prevent the tragic losses of veterans navigating these disputes, ensuring their dignity and rights are upheld.
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Weaponizing Allegations: Why Governor Youngkin Must Address False Domestic Violence Claims in Family Court
The article by Michael Phillips highlights the serious issue of false domestic violence allegations in Virginia’s family court, impacting many parents, particularly fathers. It discusses how these allegations are often used as manipulation tactics during custody battles, with dire consequences for the accused. The author calls for legal reforms to hold false accusers accountable.
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Broken Bench Series 1: The Silent Crisis of Judicial Appointments
Virginia’s judicial appointment process is characterized by political cronyism, where insiders dominate while citizens remain excluded. Judges are appointed through backroom deals, leading to favoritism and lack of accountability. This entrenched political system erodes public trust and results in significant human costs for the vulnerable. Urgent reforms are necessary to restore democracy.
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Kemler the Quitter: When Judges Walk Away From the Damage They’ve Done
Judge Lisa B. Kemler’s upcoming retirement in 2025 is viewed by some in Virginia’s legal community as graceful, but many families feel abandoned by her decisions. Her tenure contributed to a failing system, leaving victims unprotected and families fractured. Her exit symbolizes a troubling trend of judges avoiding accountability, prioritizing profit over justice.
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Broken Bench Series 1: The Silent Crisis of Judicial Appointments
Virginia citizens have lost the right to elect judges, transforming judicial selection into a secretive system dominated by political insiders. This undermines accountability and democratic representation, with significant implications for civil rights and community health. A movement is growing to restore popular elections and empower citizens in judicial processes.
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The Quiet Exodus: Why Virginia Judges Like Lisa B. Kemler Are Retiring Early
In 2025, Virginia experiences a wave of early judicial retirements led by Judge Lisa B. Kemler, raising concerns about the judiciary’s future. Factors include better pay in private dispute resolution, declining public trust, overwhelming backlog pressures, fear of accountability, and pension incentives. This trend highlights a broken judicial system needing reform.
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Maryland and Virginia Need Their Own TRUST Act: It’s Time to Pull Back the Curtain on Judicial Bias
Texas has introduced the TRUST Act to enhance judicial transparency by requiring judges to disclose financial contributions from parties appearing in their courts. This initiative addresses concerns over bias due to political contributions, aiming to restore public confidence in the legal system. Maryland and Virginia should adopt similar measures to ensure fairness and accountability in…
Virginia Bay News 