October 2019

• Date: 01 October 2019
• Published date: 01 October 2019
• Author: Barbara A. Babb,Marsha Kline Pruett
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12450

EDITORIAL NOTE

OCTOBER 2019

The fall is upon us, and the season is changing! We are delighted to present this Special Issue of

Family Court Review devoted to a topic of universal interest and importance that does not change

with the seasons—access to justice for court-involved families. Democracies around the world are

founded upon and operate according to the rule of law. As such, it is critical for the continuation of

democratic principles that a country’s constituents have trust and confidence in their justice system.

Without meaningful access to the justice system, this trust and confidence erode, contributing to

democracy’s failing. The importance of access to justice in family law matters is extremely signifi-

cant, given that these cases constitute the majority of trial court caseloads in many jurisdictions.

Among the many issues family courts must resolve are those related to how families think about

their protection and safety, the power of their ability to parent, the citizenship of their children, and

the role of law in personal matters.

Pamela Cardullo Ortiz is the Director of the Access to Justice Department within the Maryland

Judiciary, and she has served graciously and tirelessly as the guest editor of this Special Issue. Her

vast hands-on experience with local and statewide family justice administration in Maryland, coupled

with the responsibilities of her current position, qualifies Pam as one of the nation’s leading voices in

the access to justice movement. She has compiled a wonderful Special Issue that brings together per-

spectives from other experts in the field. Given that Pam’s Introduction to the Special Issue intro-

duces the authors and summarizes each piece, we do not need to repeat that information. Suffice it

to say that the articles focus on equalizing resources available to unrepresented litigants, improving

court processes to expand access, and advocating for more rigorous research designed to enhance

service delivery. We are extremely grateful to Pam and each of the Special Issue authors for their sig-

nificant contributions and efforts to ensure that access to justice is a reality and not an idea.

This issue also contains three law student Notes; two are from the Hofstra law student staff

supporting FCR, and the third is the first-place winner of the 2019 Family Law Writing

Competition.

In the first Note, “If I Go There Will Be Trouble, If I Stay There Will Be Double: Revenge Porn,

Domestic Violence, and Family Offenses,”Sarah Beechay, the FCR Articles Editor, discusses

New York’s lack of legislation surrounding the criminalization of revenge porn. She highlights the

particular effects of this legislative failing on domestic violence victims. As a solution, she recom-

mends statutory changes to the New York Family Court Act.

Damian Ramos, the author of the second Note, “Deliver Us From Evil: Protecting the Child

When Both Parents Ignore the Order of Protection,”also focuses on victims of domestic violence.

He recounts how offenders who attempt to recon cile with victims, thereby violating the injunctive

provisions of protective orders, are putting children in danger. He, too, proposes statutory

changes—in this case, sanctions against a party to a protection order who endangers children

through that party’s violation of the order’s provisions.

The final Note, “Medical–Legal Partnerships: How Legal Services Can Dramatically Improve

Health Outcomes, and the Missed Opportunity to Help Women Seeking Abortions,”is by Rebecca

Rubin from Fordham Law School. Rebecca is the first-place winner (from among 15 submissions)

of the 2019 Family Law Writing Competition. Rebecca describes medical–legal partnerships, a

FAMILY COURT REVIEW, Vol. 57 No. 4, October 2019 459–460

© 2019 Association of Family and Conciliation Courts