SCRANTON - A group of parents demonstrating on Courthouse Square Friday morning across from the Lackawanna County Administration Building at 200 Adams Ave., Scranton, said they feel the county's family court and guardian ad litem are the focus of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts defines a guardian ad litem as a "person appointed by a court to look after interests of a minor or incapacitated person involved in legal proceedings."

But parents holding signs suggesting county officials "Toss Ross" and handing out literature about the county's guardian ad litem system said that was not the case.

Press Release

Jill Jones- Soderman and The Famiy Resolution Center Launches Research Project Concerning Parental Alienation And International Child Abduction
Chester, New York (PRWEB) November 19, 2011

The Family Resolution Center, LLC (Center) and The Foundation for the Child Victims of the Family Courts (Foundation) have announced the launch of a joint research project concerning the parental alienation and child abuse as it is related to international parental child abduction.

According to Jill Jones-Soderman, The Family Resolution Center (Center) and The Foundation for the Child Victims of the Family Courts (Foundation) will be joining forces to provide therapeutic advocacy, mediation, family therapy, intensive evaluation services to parents and children. These organizations will join forces with other credible resources to provide a safety network to provide services on an ongoing basis for families and children in crisis.

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Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman (right) made the right decision to open up Family Court.
Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman must ensure access

On June 18, 1997, New York Chief Judge Judith Kaye and Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman issued an order that began with these words: "The Family Court is open to the public."

And so ended 35 years of secrecy as the doors of the court that handles juvenile crime, decides child custody and oversees foster care placements, among many other critical duties, officially swung open.

Kaye and Lippman went with sunlight after the Daily News vigorously fought for access — arguing, correctly, that the state Constitution grants all New Yorkers the right to observe all their courts in action.