Family Court Judge Stanford Blake Presented with Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

Court News - 2016

Judge Stanford Blake, Eleventh Circuit, Presented with Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence

The Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence, established in 2015, recognize one county court judge and one circuit court judge who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the judicial branch and who personify judicial excellence, embodying qualities such as strength of character, integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, sound judgment, professional ethics, intellectual courage, compassion, and decisiveness.  These prestigious awards are presented by the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court at the annual education programs for each level of the trial court.  At this year’s Annual Education Program of the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges, Chief Justice Labarga presented the 2016 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence to Judge Stanford Blake, Eleventh Circuit.  (Broward County Court Judge Robert W. Lee received the Award for Judicial Excellence at the Annual Education Program of the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida in July.)

How can we celebrate Freedom with a chain around our ankle?

The 4th of July Celebrates Freedom
Right?

Independence or In-Dependence Day?

Freedom is a word we throw around about the United States. We're free to drive from state to state without inspections.  We're free to go to the church or school we want.  We're even free to marry whoever we want.  And that's where the freedom ends.  Once you are married, the state has a firm grip on your future.  50% of marriages end in divorce.  People change. Depending on the reasonableness of each spouse, the divorce will either be amicable or horrible.  Family law attorneys prefer horrible.  There's much more money to be made! 

So what do we do about it?  Since 2011 we have been working to update Florida's antiquated family laws.  In 2013 and 2016 Gov. Scott vetoed bills that were overwhelmingly supported by the Florida House and Senate.  In 2015 the Florida House did not finish their session and went home early, leaving many good bills to die, including alimony reform.  What is to keep Gov. Scott from vetoing another bill?  Two things.

First, we will support alimony reform and/or child sharing as separate bills, unless we have specific knowledge that the Gov will sign a bill that somehow combines both. We will do our best to check with the governor to see what he will sign and what he won't sign.  Rep. Workman told us last year that Gov. Scott would veto any bill that had child sharing attached to it. And the governor did just that.  Working backwards, we'll help craft a bill that Gov. Scott will sign.

Second, we need a public outcry!  Last year having 10,000 people asking Gov. Scott to sign the bill wasn't enough.  We need 100,000 Floridians to stand up for our families and demand that the Family Court System helps to end a failed marriage without ripping the family completely apart!  The destruction of Florida families is largely due to the existing laws that many Family Law Attorneys use to divide the family and conquer the bank accounts.  Conflict creates great income opportunities for Family Law Attorneys. A mediated outcome without opposing attorneys usually will get the best long term result for the entire family at a fraction of the cost. Most family law attorneys appear to be against this straightforward solution. Wonder why?

So when you see the fireworks, listen to the music, enjoy the hamburgers, hotdogs, potato chips and drinks, enjoy the freedoms we have, but stand up and fight for the freedoms our state took away from us.  If you don't pay alimony to your ex-spouse who is capable but refuses to work, you go to jail. That Is Not Freedom!!!! You have broken no laws, but still go to jail.  Think about it!!

Then get involved! It will be great to celebrate July 4th and be totally FREE! No more ball & chain. The sooner you get involved, the sooner we will all celebrate! 

POINT OF VIEW: Craft reasonable legislation to reform alimony system 

Open Letter to Florida Governor Rick Scott!

...by Men's Rights Group of Arizona

Our Open Letter to

Florida Governor Rick Scott

Please Sign Bill 668 For the Children of Florida

Dear Governor Scott,

The Men’s Rights Group of Arizona strongly urge you to sign SB 668. This Bill will bring Florida into the 21st Century with Alimony Reform and require shared parenting time.

Florida’s current Alimony Laws are archaic and more closely resemble the family and economic structures of the 1950’s than the realities of the many family forms of 2016. SB 668 will bring economic justice and equal opportunity to divorcing husbands and wives as well as enhancing harmony in the post-divorce family by attenuating conflicts over money.

Your state’s Bill (SB 668) is widely supported in your state and allow for a more equal shared parenting component currently missing in family law. The Men’s Rights Group of Arizona believe Family Law should follow sociological research. One of the most consistently and strongly replicated findings in family social science research is that the children of divorce fare best in family forms that maximize the involvement of both parents in the child’s life. The worst developmental outcomes come from single mother families which are supported by current women headed households.

In 2013, Arizona passed the first joint parenting law in the nation and it has been a great success. The Men's Rights Group of Arizona along with many other organizations have followed this new law and it showed children are thriving as compared to mother headed households.

We strongly encourage our members and others who believe in the necessity of such reforms to contact Governor Scott immediately at: www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/email-the-governor/ and/or Rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com , and/or 850-717-9337

Respectfully,

Richard Cassalata M.Ed., ABD

Director, Men’s Rights Group of Arizona LLC

Open Letter to Florida Governor Rick Scott!

...by Men's Rights Group of Arizona

Our Open Letter to

Florida Governor Rick Scott

Please Sign Bill 668 For the Children of Florida

Dear Governor Scott,

The Men’s Rights Group of Arizona strongly urge you to sign SB 668. This Bill will bring Florida into the 21st Century with Alimony Reform and require shared parenting time.

Florida’s current Alimony Laws are archaic and more closely resemble the family and economic structures of the 1950’s than the realities of the many family forms of 2016. SB 668 will bring economic justice and equal opportunity to divorcing husbands and wives as well as enhancing harmony in the post-divorce family by attenuating conflicts over money.

Your state’s Bill (SB 668) is widely supported in your state and allow for a more equal shared parenting component currently missing in family law. The Men’s Rights Group of Arizona believe Family Law should follow sociological research. One of the most consistently and strongly replicated findings in family social science research is that the children of divorce fare best in family forms that maximize the involvement of both parents in the child’s life. The worst developmental outcomes come from single mother families which are supported by current women headed households.

In 2013, Arizona passed the first joint parenting law in the nation and it has been a great success. The Men's Rights Group of Arizona along with many other organizations have followed this new law and it showed children are thriving as compared to mother headed households.

We strongly encourage our members and others who believe in the necessity of such reforms to contact Governor Scott immediately at: www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/email-the-governor/ and/or Rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com , and/or 850-717-9337

Respectfully,

Richard Cassalata M.Ed., ABD

Director, Men’s Rights Group of Arizona LLC

Florida foster care abuse attorney and life-long advocate for children's rights, will be honored with the University of Miami Law School

Howard M. Talenfeld

"No one sets out on their career in pursuit of such honors, so it's humbling to be recognized for the work my team and I have done on behalf of the voiceless victims in our community,"

He has been recognized for his efforts with The Florida Bar's "President's Award of Merit" and the Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award for the 17th Judicial Circuit. In May, Talenfeld will receive the Professional Excellence Award from the Daily Business Review, and was a past recipient of its Most Effective Lawyer award in the Pro Bono category. He also received Legal Aid's Russell Carlisle Award for child advocacy law. He also is founding president of Florida's Children First, the state's preeminent non-profit that advocates for foster children and the developmentally disabled.

"Howard was a natural for this award. We're very proud of his pioneering work for children's causes," said Edward R. Shohat, a Miami attorney and president of the Law Alumni Association. "The association represents over 30,000 alumni around the world, and Howard is an excellent ambassador for the school."

"Howard exemplifies the characteristics and qualities that make for a great lawyer," added Todd S. Payne, past president of the Law Alumni Association and chair of its National Advisory Council. "When you match great lawyering skills with someone who serves others, particularly those less capable of helping themselves, that's a person deserving of recognition."

Happy Birthday David 2011 - A name is much more than just a name!

D is for desire, your thoughts do aspire or for  dA name is much more than just a name!

A is for affirm, the certainty of knowledge or for abundant, your cheer knows no bounds.

V is for valentine, a sweetheart you are! Or for volunteer, your giving side.

I is for inspire, others seek your guidance or for interest, you show in others.

D is for dashing, the romantic you! Or for diamond, the brilliance you shine.

"A Dad's Point-of-View™"

Bruce Sallan - "A Dad's Point-of-View™" Columnist, Speaker, and Blogger

It's #FaithSunday - what are you doing to Repair the World? I'm spending time in New York and Connecticut with my son -...
Posted by A Dad's Point-of-View on Sunday, October 4, 2015

And, good morning world. Enjoying the view after lightning storms last night. Off to New York for my first visit with my son, who began Pace this year! I think I need a (coffee) refill...
Posted by A Dad's Point-of-View on Friday, October 2, 2015

It's so important to have GRATITUDE. It is the single biggest ingredient to happiness. As I struggle with "life" I try...
Posted by A Dad's Point-of-View on Monday, September 21, 2015

The 14%er is a newsletter for noncustodial parents. The August issue includes news about an App for Divorce, a poem by Edmond Dantes, and resources to strengthen the parent-child bond. Read it at
Posted by Don Mathis on Sunday, August 2, 2015

https://www.facebook.com/TheChildSupportSuperHero
Posted by Dennis Wirth on Saturday, July 18, 2015

My latest article:
Posted by Don Mathis on Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Poetry (Footsteps, by Jennifer Lefkowski), Links to Father's Day Articles, Parents Forced to pay Kids' College Costs,...
Posted by Don Mathis on Tuesday, July 7, 2015