FAMILY LAW TASK FORCE

The legal services Family Law Task Force last met on:

Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Time: 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. ET
Place: Legal Aid of the Bluegrass Community Room, 498 Georgetown Street, Lexington

Agenda: High profile domestic violence proposals, hot docs, joint custody and more, including special guests Sherry Currens (Kentucky Domestic Violence Association) and Darlene Thomas (Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program). Details below.

Info: For info about the meeting, email richseckel@kyequaljustice.org.

=Family Law Task Force Agenda= Family Law TF annc 10-28-09.pdf

October 28, 2009

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12:00 Noon Lunch, Welcome and Introductions

We’ll start with a working lunch to make it easier for Western Kentucky folks to join us.

12:10 Special Guests on Domestic Violence

Strengthening EPO and DVO laws and enforcement: Tragic events have put protective orders back in the news. Our friend Sherry Currens from Kentucky Domestic Violence Association fills us in on potential legislative responses. On the list: GPS tracking and protective orders for dating couples.

 KDVA Legislative Update 10_27_09.pdf

Joint Custody and domestic violence: Darlene Thomas from the Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program shares her observations and concerns on joint custody in domestic violence cases. How does it play out in your practice, with your clients and with your judges?

1:00 Show and Tell: Kyjustice Hoc Docs and Family Law Resources

The statewide legal services website has new resources for practitioners and the public, including information in Spanish and links to pro se divorce petitions for Jefferson County. Show and tell by Marc Theriault (LAS) and Cheryl Cureton (KLA). Note: this one depends on tech support.

1:30 Break

1:45 Family Law Institute . . . Immigrant Kids . . . Kentucky gets a “D”

Family Law Institute: It’s the big KBA family law wingding. Co-chair Deborah Spring attended. She’ll fill us in on highlights and add notes on cases on appeal.

Relative “custody agreements:” DCBS now places high priority on relative placements in child protection cases. Bob Brown of Bethany House shelter raises key questions: Are parents being pressured into signing relative custody agreements? Should they have a chance to talk with a lawyer first?

 DPP-167 Consent to Voluntary Commitment.pdf

“Unheard Voices:” KEJC’s Cori Hash had an excellent feature article on immigrant juveniles in the July Bench and Bar magazine. Cori can’t be with us, but Monica Ibarra-Burke will give us the key points.

WAOs and EPOs: It’s an issue with flip sides. What if Warning Order Attorneys served EPOs on respondents? One side: it’s a way to get service to respondents avoiding it. Another: service may not be entered into LINK for weeks. Mary Savage (KDVA) and Catherine DeFlorio (LABG) discuss.

Kentucky gets a “D:” a recent study found Kentucky did poorly in providing legal representation for kids. The finding made news. Our friends from the Children’s Law Center comment and describe recent Center work.

Poverty Law Task Force: Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo was a prime mover in launching it. The members are legislators. How will the Task Force define its mission and focus its recommendations? Rich Seckel reports—and offers a preview of the 2010 General Assembly.

2:30 Case Discussions

DRCs, SSI and CSGs . . . Put ‘em together and what does it spell? Co-chair Karen Alfano finds that Domestic Relations Commissioners often impose the $60 minimum obligation from the Child Support Guidelines on SSI recipients.

Your case here: bring ‘em on.

2:50 Task Force Planning

Plan ahead! We’ll spend a few minutes brainstorming emerging issues and topics for future agendas, plus ideas for Task Force participants and speakers.

3:00 Adjourn!