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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.

The Records They Wouldn’t Release — and the Mother They Jailed Read More
Accountability / Anne Arundel County / Baltimore City / Child Custody / Child Custody / Civil Rights / Corruption / Court Corruption / Crime & Violence / Crime Violence / Due Process Denied / Family Court / Government Corruption / Juveniles / Maryland / Maryland Watch / Public Safety / The Corruption Series / The Reichert Files

Maryland Punishes Parents Harder Than Criminals — And It’s a National Shame

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

In Maryland, a father can be jailed for fighting false accusations in family court while a teenager who commits an armed carjacking is released the same night. Parents like Jeff Reichert have been punished more severely for wanting to see their children than violent offenders face for terrorizing communities. At times, it seems easier to access your child through prison visitation than through family court. That is not justice—it’s systemic failure, and it demands reform.

Maryland Punishes Parents Harder Than Criminals — And It’s a National Shame Read More
Accountability / Adr / Alternative Dispute Resolution / Corruption / Court Corruption / Government Corruption / Judges / Judicial / Judicial Disability / Locked Out of Justice / The Corruption Series

Judges for Sale: The Quiet Power of ADR and the Revolving Door

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The family court system’s reliance on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has turned justice into a for-profit enterprise, often forcing parents into mediation without considering safety or power dynamics. Retired judges transition into mediation roles, profiting from a system they once controlled, raising ethical concerns and perpetuating cycles of abuse and conflict.

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Anne Arundel County / Baltimore City / Baltimore County / Basketball / Child Custody / Child Custody / Corruption / Court Corruption / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Maryland / Maryland Watch / Sports / The Corruption Series / The Reichert Files / Virginia

The Coach’s Court: The Life and Love of Jeff Reichert

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Jeff Reichert’s journey from a competitive youth in Virginia Beach to an attorney and coach is marked by resilience amid personal turmoil. Despite injuries and false accusations leading to his son’s removal, Jeff remains devoted to coaching, believing in the game’s transformative power and hoping for a future reunion with his son on the court.

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Ada Accommodations / Beyond Barriers and Disability Rights / California / Child Custody / Disability / Disability Rights / Mental Health

I Haven’t Met Taran Nolan. But I Know Injustice When I See It.

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Michael Phillips shares the story of Taran Nolan, a quadriplegic mother and trauma survivor facing systemic injustice in family court. Denied accommodations and labeled unstable for her emotional expressions, Taran’s struggle highlights a broader issue where disabled and traumatized parents are stripped of their rights, treated as problems rather than individuals deserving support.

I Haven’t Met Taran Nolan. But I Know Injustice When I See It. Read More
Adr / Attorneys / Business / Child Support / Corruption / Court Reform / Economy / Family Court / Fraud / Judges / No One Is Coming / Privitization

The Price of Your Child: How Family Court Became a Billion-Dollar Industry

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

What is the price of your child? In family court, it’s whatever the system can extract—through legal fees, child support orders, court-mandated services, and endless litigation. This isn’t justice. It’s a billion-dollar industry built on your heartbreak. Behind every “best interest of the child” ruling lies a profit motive no one wants to talk about. Until now.

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Advocacy / Civil Rights / Constitutional Law / Corruption / Court Reform / Family Court / Fraud / Judicial Disability / Mental Health / No One Is Coming

Innocent Until Family Court: How Due Process Dies Behind Closed Doors

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Family court in the U.S. operates differently from criminal courts, lacking essential rights like the presumption of innocence and a jury. False allegations are common, leading to unjust outcomes. The burden of proof lies with the accused, and mental health issues are weaponized against parents. Reforms are urgently needed to ensure fairness and due process.

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Advocacy / Child Custody / Civil Rights / Corruption / Court Reform / Family Court / Fraud / No One Is Coming / Politics

No One Is Coming: When the System Steals Your Child and the World Looks Away

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The article discusses the struggles of parents in the U.S. family court system, emphasizing their disillusionment with the promise of justice. Many lose custody due to systemic biases, while mainstream media and lawmakers neglect their plight. Survivors are labeled and stigmatized, driving them to advocate for reform and share their experiences.

No One Is Coming: When the System Steals Your Child and the World Looks Away Read More
Ada Accommodations / Civil Rights / Constitutional Law / Constitutional Rights / Disability / Family Court / Judges / Judicial Disability / Montgomery County

Every Motion Denied: A Father’s Day Message from the Broken Heart of Maryland Family Court

- by Michael Phillips - 1 Comment

In Montgomery County, Maryland, a father has been unable to see his son since January 2024 due to the Circuit Court’s refusal to enforce a court order. Despite filing around 100 motions requesting enforcement and accommodations for disabilities, all efforts were ignored or denied, reflecting systemic neglect of fathers’ rights within the family court system.

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Ada Accommodations / Adr / Advocacy / Constitutional Law / Constitutional Rights / Corruption / Court Reform / Family Court / Judges / Legislation / New York / The Fishman Files

Where Is the Oversight? NY Legislators Stay Silent as Family Court Abuses Continue

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Marc Fishman, denied due process and access to his children, symbolizes systemic abuse in New York’s family courts, where judges act without accountability. Despite evidence of misconduct and legislators’ awareness, reforms remain unaddressed, resulting in suffering families. Immediate legislative action and oversight are essential to restore justice in the system.

Where Is the Oversight? NY Legislators Stay Silent as Family Court Abuses Continue Read More