RATS in the COURTROOM
Who Slipped a Finger on the Scales of Justice?
As they basked on the courthouse window ledge.
As they listened, they munched on old stale crumbs.
Let's see what's for lunch. C'mon, climb down the ledge.
Wait. Hold on, I've been following this case.
See there, that's the mother looking so sad.
They both want that kid with tears on her face.
And that's the father; he's one unhappy lad.
He asks for custody and the kid darts
To her mother (the child's terrified of him.)
She screams, he hurts me there (points to private parts.)
My child told me this, the mother's eyes brim.
The mother is at fault, he claims angrily.
Parent Alienation Syndrome.
He asserts, she coached my child - she's to blame!
Watch, he'll get custody and take her home.
Well, wait! Just think, what he said could be true.
They stood on their hind legs; their noses quivered.
M-m-m-m! What do I smell? Could that be stew?
Look! He did get custody. They both shivered.
PAS doesn't come from widely validated research,
But, now, just supposing it was the case,
It's the mother who's left in the lurch.
As a rule, no investigation takes place.*
Lady Justice is no longer blind.
A heavy finger weighs one scale way down.
Funny,. You know, with our babies, we're much more kind.
I smell cheese and, oh, is that quiche? See you 'round!
*The Evidentiary Admissibility of Parental Alienation Syndrome
American Psychological Association. (1996). Report of the APA Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family, Washington, D.C : Author.
Available at http://www.apa.org/pi/pii/familyvio/issue5.html
Noting that custody and visitation disputes appear to occur more frequently when there is a history of domestic violence. Family courts often do not consider the history of violence between the parents in making custody and visitation decisions. In this context, the nonviolent parent may be at a disadvantage, and behavior that would seem reasonable as a protection from abuse may be misinterpreted as a sign of instability.
http://www.abanet.org/family/familylaw/fam353_06_bruch_527_552.pdf
Published by Mary Naylor confirmed
I was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1933. I grew up in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, a wild and beautiful state, rich in literature and lore. I loved the stories of Paul Bunyon and his ox, Babe. The hoax of t... View profile
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