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3 - Investigations / 4 - Cases / California / California Watch / California's Broken Public Defense System / Criminal / Family Court / Family Court Reform / The Reyna Files

The Criminalist and the Coerced Plea

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Former criminalist Rhonda Reyna once testified for prosecutors in homicide cases. Years later, she says the same justice system ignored exculpatory evidence, pushed her into a no contest plea, and helped separate her from her daughter. Part one of Riptide’s investigation into California’s broken public defense system.

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3 - Investigations / 4 - Cases / Brenna Gano Case / California / California Watch / Family Court / Family Court Reform / The California Custody Cartel

Court Denies Brenna Gano’s Motions — But Sets the Stage for Trial

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

A San Mateo judge rejected attempts by Brenna Gano to overturn a 2022 settlement, citing statute of limitations concerns. Gano argued she was coerced into the agreement without proper accommodations for her disabilities. While the denials were procedural, a full-day trial is set for December 28, 2026, where core issues will be examined.

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2 - Analysis / 3 - Investigations / Circuit Court / Civil Court / Civil Rights / Civil Rights / Court Corruption / Court Reform / Domestic Policy / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Government / Institutions / Institutions & Accountability / Justice & Governance / Maryland / Maryland Watch

No One Is Watching: How Montgomery County’s Family Court Operates Without External Oversight, and What Happens to the People Who Notice

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

An investigation reveals a significant accountability gap in Maryland’s family court system, where civil rights complaints against judges lack external oversight and transparency. Complaints filed are often sealed and unreported, leading to systemic noncompliance without recourse for litigants. This raises critical issues about judicial accountability and the structures that enable potential misconduct.

No One Is Watching: How Montgomery County’s Family Court Operates Without External Oversight, and What Happens to the People Who Notice Read More
3 - Investigations / 4 - Cases / Brenna Gano Case / California / California Watch / Court Corruption / Family Court Reform / Institutions / Legal Reform / The California Custody Cartel

The Ambush

- by Michael Phillips - 1 Comment

Brenna Gano’s tumultuous experience in San Mateo County family court culminated in a misleading Zoom mediation on February 15, 2022, where she faced undue pressure to sign a Memorandum of Agreement regarding custody and finances. This occurred amid a financial disparity and lack of proper legal representation, leading to claims of duress and calls for the agreement to be set aside.

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Ada Accommodations / Beyond Barriers and Disability Rights / Civil Rights / Civil Rights / Disability / Disability Rights / Disability Rights / Family Court / New York / New York Watch / The Fishman Files

Disability Advocates Condemn New York Court of Appeals and Judge Anthony Cannataro for Denying Disabled Father Access to Justice

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The New York Court of Appeals dismissed Marc Fishman’s appeal regarding ADA violations during his seven-year litigation, claiming it lacked jurisdiction. Despite a federal judge’s order for accommodations, Westchester courts denied necessary support, highlighting systemic issues in New York’s justice system that prevent disabled litigants from obtaining fair treatment and redress. Advocates call for legislative reforms.

Disability Advocates Condemn New York Court of Appeals and Judge Anthony Cannataro for Denying Disabled Father Access to Justice Read More
Connecticut / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Father's Rights / Misconduct / New York

From Custody to Conviction: The Nicholas Hall Case and the High Cost of Family-Court Weaponization

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Nicholas Hall, serving a 21-year prison sentence in Connecticut, was convicted amid a contentious custody battle. His supporters claim the charges stemmed from manipulative tactics by his ex-wife, supported by politically connected families. Advocates argue for systemic reforms to ensure fair trials and broaden access to critical evidence, emphasizing injustices in family-court linked prosecutions.

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3 - Investigations / Ada Accommodations / Beyond Barriers and Disability Rights / California / California Watch / Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Support / Child Trafficking / Child Welfare / Corruption / Court Corruption / Disability / Disability Rights / Disability Rights / Domestic Violence / Family Court / Government / Government Corruption / Law and Order / Parental Rights / parental rights / San Marcos Abduction Attempt / The Corruption Series / The Smiel Series / transparency

Paper Crime Scene: How a County Line Turned a Custody Dispute Into a Felony Case

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Giselle Farias Smiel faces felony charges for allegedly kidnapping her children, stemming from bureaucratic mistakes and insufficient evidence. The case highlights systemic failures, including secrecy and lack of inter-agency communication, which overshadow due process and create a troubling precedent for parental rights and disability protections within the legal system.

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Accountability / Child Custody / Child Custody / Child Support / Child Support / Corruption / Court Corruption / Court Of Ruin The William Sewell Files / Court Reform / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Laws / Legal Reform / Misconduct / South Carolina / South Carolina Watch / transparency

The Transcript Trap: How South Carolina Appeals Shut Parents Out of Justice

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

William Sewell’s appeal following Judge Mandy Kimmons’ ruling confronts a major obstacle: the trial transcript. Sewell argues that opposing counsel Donald Gamache must share the transcript based on legal precedent, while Gamache insists Sewell must pay for it. This financial barrier effectively obstructs due process and limits parents’ ability to contest unjust rulings.

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Accountability / Constitutional Rights / Corruption / Court Corruption / Crime & Violence / Crime Violence / Criminal / Democrats / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Family Values / Fraud / Government / Government Corruption / Gun Violence / Legal Reform / Legislation / Minnesota / Misconduct / parental rights / Politics / Rights and Freedoms / State Legislators / The Corruption Series

A Generation Raised in the Shadow of Violence: Guns or Family Breakdown?

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Another school shooting. This time, two children dead and seventeen others injured in Minneapolis. Politicians are already tweeting the same slogans about “stopping gun violence,” but for over two decades those words have meant nothing. The deeper truth is harder to face: America’s epidemic of mass shootings isn’t just about guns—it’s about the collapse of family, the destruction caused by corrupt family courts, and a political class too invested in power and profit to fix the systems tearing children apart.

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Accountability / bias / Corruption / Court Corruption / Judges / Judicial / Judicial Disability / Misconduct / The Corruption Series / transparency

Why Are Judges So Protected From Public Accountability?

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Judicial misconduct remains obscured by a veil of secrecy, allowing judges to evade accountability unlike police or teachers. This lack of transparency undermines public trust in the justice system. To restore integrity, reforms are needed, including public records of misconduct, independent oversight, and real consequences for violations, ensuring judges are held accountable.

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