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Justice Cannot Be Blind to Invisible Disabilities

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Maryland courts are increasingly denying ADA accommodation requests for individuals with invisible disabilities, leading to severe consequences. Judges are making medical determinations without proper evaluations, overshadowing federal law. This systemic failure calls for reforms including empowered ADA coordinators, necessary written responses, independent oversight, and better judicial training to honor ADA rights effectively.

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Inside People v. Smiel: When Process Becomes the Story

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Giselle Smiel faces five felonies, including kidnapping, for picking up her crying child at a San Diego school. Her defense argues there was no force or substantial movement, pointing to lack of evidence and jurisdictional issues. Advocates highlight constitutional violations and ADA neglect in her arrest, seeking dismissal of charges and oversight on family-court mechanisms in criminal cases.

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The Hidden Market in Broken Homes: How Family Courts Became a Profit Center

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The article by Michael Phillips argues that family courts and child welfare systems have evolved into profit-driven industries, prioritizing revenue over family stability. Federal laws like Title IV-D and Title IV-E incentivize conflict and child removal, creating a cycle of dependency and trauma for families. Reform is essential to shift these damaging incentives.

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Accountability / Ada Accommodations / Beyond Barriers and Disability Rights / California / California Watch / Disability / Disability Rights / Disability Rights / Domestic Violence / Due Process Denied / Family Court / San Marcos Abduction Attempt / The Smiel Series / transparency

“We Aren’t Having One of Those Today”

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

During a federal shutdown, a Los Angeles courtroom silenced advocates and observers during a hearing for domestic violence survivor Giselle Smiel, violating her ADA rights. Despite a provided Teams link for remote access, court staff denied participation, raising concerns over public oversight and institutional failure in providing justice and transparency for vulnerable individuals.

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The Records They Wouldn’t Release — and the Mother They Jailed

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The case of Giselle Smiel highlights significant issues of transparency and jurisdictional failures in California’s justice system. After a May 2025 incident involving alleged child abduction, Smiel faced six felony charges despite having no criminal history. Denied access to public records and effective legal representation, she remains in jail, raising concerns over systemic accountability and due process.

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“Evidence, Not Ideology” — If Only the ABA Lived By Its Own Words

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The American Bar Association (ABA) recently advocated for evidence-based justice while criticizing political influences. However, it faces accusations of selective outrage and inconsistency regarding its principles. The ABA’s historical silence on systemic injustices raises doubts about its commitment to neutrality. True reform requires the ABA to uphold its stated values across all cases.

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How Do You Jail the Disabled Dad While the System Walks Free?

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Marc Fishman, a Bronx disability rights advocate, faces a 45-day jail sentence tied to a convoluted legal battle with Westchester authorities, including wrongful arrest during supervised visitation with his son. His case raises concerns over due process, ADA violations, and judicial accountability, drawing national attention amid calls for emergency intervention before imprisonment.

How Do You Jail the Disabled Dad While the System Walks Free? Read More
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One Standard for Justice, Not Two: How Political Hypocrisy Mirrors Family Court Bias

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Family courts, like our political system, suffer from a dangerous double standard. Fathers’ voices are too often dismissed, their evidence ignored, while mothers’ accusations are taken at face value. Just as the media excuses extremism from the left while condemning the right, family courts excuse obstruction by mothers while punishing fathers for even minor missteps. Until there is one consistent standard of justice, parents—and children—will continue to pay the price.

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The Opportunist: From Gun Board Failure to Family Court Predator

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

John H. Michel, a Maryland attorney with a problematic history, transitioned from a disgraced gun board member to a controversial figure in family court following his wife’s death. Exploiting vulnerabilities, he gained control over a child’s custody, raising serious concerns about his motives and actions, characterized as reckless opportunism. The consequences impact both public safety and family dynamics.

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So You Want to Be a Maryland Magistrate? A Step-by-Step Guide to Letting Criminals Run Free

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The content critiques the ease of becoming a magistrate in Maryland without a law degree or passing the bar exam. It highlights the absurdity of allowing unqualified individuals to make critical legal decisions, emphasizing the potential dangers of this system, where accountability is negligible and public safety is compromised.

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