Childs Best Interest

Citizens Guide to the Judiciary

Tennessee judges have been some of the best in the nation in upholding constitutional guarantees for families.  However they have never issued a ruling applying strict scrutiny to a parent v. parent custody case.  This could be considered only a huge oversight, and yet over the last year we have sent detailed information packages to appellate and trial judges, and many law school professors.  Most did nothing, and a few did a good job as shown below.

And it's getting worse.  We have a letter from a Guardian Ad Litem which reads, "I have tried to tell both of them that if Chancellor Alissandratos determines that they cannot work together for the benefit of their child, he would have no hesitation in going beyond what is requested by either side including removing the child to a "better environment."  This is a routine custody action consisting of two fit parents, where they have been pitted against each other by the law and legal practitioners in a fight for primary custody.  So why is the GAL saying this judge would not hesitate to place the child with a third party?  Is she merely bullying the parents, or is they prepared to rip the child from his parents' care?  Has this happened to other children, and what is the above appellate judges' role in this?  These questions need to be answered.

US SUPREME COURT: "The liberty interest at issue in this case - - the interest of parents in the care, custody, and control of their children -- is perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by this Court."  TENNESSEE SUPREME COURT:  "[W]e believe that when no substantial harm threatens a child's welfare, the state lacks a sufficiently compelling justification for the infringement on the fundamental right of parents to raise their children as they see fit."  JUDICIAL OATH OF OFFICE: "...do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Tennessee...So help me God"  JUDICIAL CANON 2(A): "A judge shall respect and comply with the law and shall act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary."   Tennessee judges are violating their own Oaths and Canons, and moving us away from being a country ruled by law.

Connecticut

Joette Katz  Connecticut Supreme Court Justice  R/A  Superior Ruling

William J. Sullivan  C.J. Conn. Supreme Court, David Borden, Fleming Norcott Jr., Christine Vertefeuille, Richard M. Palmer, Peter T. Zarella  R/A

 

Georgia

Dane Perkins  Georgia Superior Court Judge  R/A   Landmark Ruling

 

Tennessee

Adolpho Birch  Tennessee Supreme Court Justice   R/A

 

Frank Crawford  Western Appellate Justice  DNA/DNR 

David Farmer   Western Appellate Justice  DNA/DNR

Alan Highers  Western Appellate Justice  DNA/DNR    

Holly Lillard   Western Section Appellate Justice   DNA/DNR   

 

Ben Cantrell  Middle Appellate Justice  R/A

William Cain  Middle Appellate Justice  R/A   

Patricia Cottrell  Middle Appellate Justice  R/A

William Koch  Middle Appellate Justice  R/A   DNA/DNR 

 

Houston Goddard  Eastern Appellate Justice  R/A

Herschel Franks  Eastern Appellate Justice  R/A 

Charles Susano  Eastern Appellate Justice  R/A 

Michael Swiney  Eastern Appellate Justice  No Rating  Superior Ruling

 

Steven C. Douglas  White County Judge  R/A  Superior Ruling

Muriel Robinson  Davidson County Judge  R/A   Landmark Ruling 

Carol Catalano  Montgomery County Chancellor  R/A  Superior Ruling 

William Inman Sr.  Senior Judge  R/A

Walter Kurtz  Special Judge  R/A  

Russ Heldman  Williamson County Chancellor  R/A

Thomas Austin  Roane County Juvenile Court Judge  R/A

Dennis Humphrey  Roane County Juvenile Court Judge  R/A

A. Andrew Jackson  Dickson County Judge  R/A

Don Ash  Special Judge R/A

CBI Homepage

The interest of the parents in the care, custody,
and control of their children - - is perhaps
the oldest of the fundamental liberty
interests recognized by this Court.
U.S. Supreme Court 2000 A.D.