January 2017

• Date: 01 January 2017
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12262
• Published date: 01 January 2017
• Author: Barbara A. Babb

EDITORIAL NOTES

JANUARY 2017

I am extremely honored to write my first “Editorial Notes” for Family Court Review, and I am

most grateful to the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Board of Directors for

appointing me to succeed Professor Andrew Schepard. I have been a devoted reader of and contribu-

tor to FCR (and its predecessor journals) for many decades, and I have been a committed AFCC

member since the early 1990s. Although I doubt anyone can fill Professor Schepard’s shoes, I cer-

tainly plan to try my best to follow in his incredibly large footsteps. He is a dear friend and colleague

with whom I regularly have consulted and collaborated since my early days in law school teaching,

and I am most appreciative of his unwavering support.

It is with a heavy heart, however, that I must mention the untimely passing of Ruth Stern. Ruth

and her husband, Professor Herbie DiFonzo, along with Dr. Robert Emery, oversaw and maintained

the operation of FCR at Hofstra during the transition year prior to my appointment. Ruth served as

Managing Editor of FCR during her tenure with the journal. I met Ruth last March at an editorial

meeting at Hofstra, and we communicated throughout the latter part of the transition process. It was

obvious from the interactions at the editorial meeting that Ruth had developed close working rela-

tionships with the law student staff, who displayed their respect and affection for her. Likewise, in

the short time I had the privilege to work with Ruth, she welcomed me to FCR with warmth, humili-

ty, encouragement, and support. I have known Herbie for quite some time, and, on behalf of FCR,I

extend to him our deepest sympathies. Bob Emery’s October 2016 Editorial Notes provide more

information about Ruth and a description of his working relationship with her. In addition, Herbie’s

fitting tribute to his wife is forthcoming in the April 2017 issue of FCR.

Since officially assuming the editorial reins in April 2016, I have been privileged to collaborate

with two outstanding co-editors: Robert Emery, the FCR social science editor, and Matthew Kiernan,

the FCR faculty administrative editor. Along with the very capable Hofstra law student staff, our

work together has been efficient, effective, and enjoyable. While FCR readers undoubtedly know

Bob, who has served as the FCR social science editor since 2010 and is one of the leading research-

ers on child custody, Matt is new to the production process. He joins FCR as the on-site law student

staff advisor and administrator. He also serves as the director of policy and planning in the law

school’s Center for Children, Families, and the Law. Prior to this position, Matt served as special

counsel to the Honorable Gail Prudenti in her role as chief administrative judge of the New York

Court System and as clerk of the court of the Appellate Division for the Second Judicial Department.

Indeed, it truly is an honor for me to work with Bob, Matt, and the Hofstra law student staff. In addi-

tion, Eric Piper and his colleagues from Wiley have provided great technical support to the FCR pro-

duction team, including efforts to enhance the worldwide readership of the journal. All of us truly

have enjoyed working closely with Eric, who is always on the lookout for processes to benefit and

enhance FCR’s audience. Finally, AFCC Executive Director Peter Salem has provided me with

incredible support and assistance at every step of the transition process. Like Andy, Peter is also a

long-standing dear friend and colleague.

For those FCR readers who do not know me, please allow me to offer a bit of background. I am

a tenured member of the University of Baltimore School of Law faculty, where I have taught various

family law courses since 1989. I founded and direct the law school’s Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Cen-

ter for Families, Children and the Courts, an interdisciplinary center aimed at improving the family

justice system. I bring to the editor-in-chief position assets related to my career as a practicing family

FAMILY COURT REVIEW, Vol. 55 No. 1, January 2017 5–7

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C2017 Association of Family and Conciliation Courts