The Grand Rapids Press notes the passing of retired Judge Stuart Hoffius, Kent County’s Chief Judge for 28 of his 29 years on the bench. Ken Kolker writes (excerpt): “He never said a mean word to anyone when he sentenced…
Father-son car rides
The New York Times tells us what a teenager really learned on the long drives to therapy. Michael Parker writes (excerpt): I don’t remember a thing about my psychiatrist except that he asked me questions, and as usual, my answers…
Parents, grandparents and harm to children
Michigan’s newly enacted grandparentting time statute is 2004 Public Act 542, amending MCL 722.22 and 722.27b. A grandparent involved in such a dispute will be required to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the parent’s decision to deny…
Separation of powers
The New York Times Editorial highlights the federal state of the courts report (excerpt): Without naming names, Chief Justice Rehnquist spoke of a troubling “new turn” in recent years that has seen some conservative Republicans in Congress cross the line…
Because Iraq and Afghanistan are not romantic getaways
AP/Findlaw reports on the Army’s attempt to reduce the 21 percent divorce rate when one spouse has been sent off to war. Kimberly Hefling writes (excerpt): One program being implemented Army-wide teaches couples forgiveness and the skills to communicate. It…
My, flashing really does work
Lycos published its Top 100 search terms of 2004 (with last year’s rank in parentheses). Included in the top 10 are items related to marriage, divorce, annulment, custudy disputes and other relationship matters: 1. Janet Jackson (-) 2. Paris Hilton…
Alberto Gonzales and divorce clients
Slate examines President George Bush’s relationship to his Attorney General, passing along some general comments on lawyering along the way. Dahlia Lithwick writes (excerpt): One of the most striking legacies of my brief foray into the wonderful world of divorce…
Examining the human condition
The New York Times celebrates Garrison Keillor’s anniversary with Prairie Home Companion with a glimpse of the man behind the microphone. David Carr writes (excerpt): Mr. Keillor is a version of the American personality who ends up stapled to something…
Teaching publicly, parenting privately
The Sixth Circuit issued a 2-1 decision in Barrett v Steubenville City Schools (No. 03-4373; November 15, 2004). The panel–faced with a challenge by a public school teacher who sent his children to Catholic schools–reaffirmed that parents have a constitutionally…
Things you wish you knew before the ceremony
Reuters reports on a woman who fainted at her wedding: An Israeli man who refused to provide child support to his ex-wife for nearly eight years finally had to start paying up when he remarried and police raided the reception…
Divorce arbitration
The Michigan Court of Appeals is publishing Miller v Miller, a 2-1 decision on domestic relations arbitration (Case No. 242470; November 30, 2004). The issue was whether a domestic relations litigant was bound by an “arbitral awardâ€? when the arbitrator…
In search of definition
The BBC shows what a dictionary publisher can do with its online search data: The term “blog” has been chosen as the top word of 2004 by a US dictionary publisher. Merriam-Webster said “blog” headed the list of most looked-up…
See Dick and Jane
The New York Times notes the passing of Nancy Larrick at 93. Jennifer Bayot writes (excerpt): Dr. Larrick considered the standard reading workbooks of the 1950’s, with their picture games and stories about Dick and Jane, insulting to even a…
Men and women in the movies
The American Film Institute announced its nominees for the top 100 movie quotes. The 400 excerpts include: MELVIN UDALL You make me want to be a better man. AS GOOD AS IT GETS SUGARPUSS O’SHEA I love him because he’s…
The when and how of teaching volunteering
The New York Times sees children helping and asks when should volunteering and community service begin. David M. Herszenhorn writes (excerpt): Marvin W. Berkowitz, a developmental psychologist and professor of character education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, recommends that…
Red states, blue states, marriage and divorce rates
The New York Times looks at divorce rates, highest in those areas where many conservative Christians live (Kentucky, Mississippi and Arkansas) and lowest in the Northeast (Massachusetts), and the possible explanations for these findings. Pam Belluck writes (excerpt): “Some people…
Writing from the heart
The New York Times gets Judy Blume talking about writing. Jennifer Goldblatt writes (excerpt): “I didn’t know what I was doing,” Ms. Blume said “I was just free to write spontaneously, from the inside and not worry about what I…
Always remembering the human beings behind the case number
The Grand Rapids Press notes the passing of Judge Woodrow Alexander Yared (excerpt): “He exemplified what our legal system should be. If you were a winner or a loser in his court, you felt you had your day in court,”…
Who wants to be a millionaire?
Findlaw/AP published notice of an ex-wife’s firesale of a $250 million divorce judgment, collectible from the Saudi royal family (excerpt): After battling for more than 20 years to collect the court-ordered judgment, Diana Bilinelli said she has decided to sell…
The compatibility fallacy
Wall Street Journal Online/Yahoo helps us give up the fight to stop fighting. Hilary Stout writes (excerpt): Years of relationship studies by some leading figures in the field make it increasingly clear that most couples, whether they’re happy or unhappy,…