www.americans4legalreform.com
P.O. Box 2679
Huntington Station, NY 11746
Telephone 631-421-6390
Over 100 links
COPY & DISTRIBUTE
April, 2009
AMERICANS FOR LEGAL REFORM
BE SURE TO VOTE
B U T N O T F O R L A W Y E R S
A 501C3 NOT FOR PROFIT VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION
MEETING DATES 7PM SUBJECT
TUES., APR 7th Plainview O/B Library What Paralegals can do for you
TUES., MAY 5th Plainview O/B Library Interviews for ALR TV/U Tube Show: Chris DiMaggio
June thru August- Break: Start a group in your area. We will help.
TUES., SEPT (TBA) Plainview O/B Library Child Support Modification
SAVE THIS NEWSLETTER AS WE WILL ONLY BE MAILING QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERS!!!!!!!
THE OLDEST MOST SUCCESSFUL LEGAL REFORM GROUP IN THE WORLD
ALR(est.1992) has seen some change for the better over the past 15 years.1.New attorney rules of professional conduct 2.New grievance rules in NYS.The complainants now can see the lawyer’s response to their complaint. The lawyer’s response had always been a secret.3.Guardianship Courts and Divorce Courts are not only identifying problems, but are attempting to offer solutions. It’s a start. Educating the other judges who have their heads in the sand will be a difficult job for the new Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman( we will miss Judge Judith Kaye).Perhaps input from the public along with higher pay will attract better qualified , educated, accountable judges. The only way this trend will improve is with more public pressure/ votes. We encourage all groups to work together to effect more change. Send your dues.
*****************************************************************************
Does anyone have any information on? (We will keep your name confidential.)
Judge Robert Ross (N) Mildred Michalczyk Esq. Rubenfeld Jr & Sr Esq.
Judge Melanie L.Cyganowski(F) Sari Friedman Esq. James O’Rourke Esq.
Judge Marion NcNulty(S) Charles Ballistreri Esq. Frances Forgione Esq.
Judge John B.Riordan(Prob) Jay Davis Esq. David Grossman Esq.
Judge Diana G. Adams (F) Roger Weber Esq. Michael Ryan Esq.
Judge Edward Carni(AP) Bryan Holzberg Esq. Victor Mevorah Esq.
*****************************************************************************
Ever wonder why the NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct currently headed by Alfred D.Lerner has so few investigations of judges at every level when they are empowered by the State Constitution under judiciary law section 44.1 to investigate all complaints brought against judges? Because the Commission made rule 22NYRR section 7000.3. which turned the Commission’s mandatory duty to investigate complaints into a “discretionary option”. Thus both the legislative and judicial branches of our state government remain without formal accountability, effectively giving the Commission a “must do” to a “may do”. (Westchester Guardian 12/11/08) (Judgewatch.org)
*****************************************************************************
ALR’s volunteer court watchers continue to expose injustice in our courts:
1. Ex-husband, David Grossman Esq., would rather spend thousands on attorney fees, 8 court appearances, vacations, cars, motorcycles, new wife and home than to give Family Court ordered child support to his 3 invalid children. His lawyer, J. O’Rourke Esq., claimed in court Grossman had no income, his previous firm loaned him $15,000/ mth, and because of ALR that firm fired him. He still owes them millions of dollars on a bad business venture.(If he was a blue collar worker he’d be in jail. Send him a few dollars; he needs socks).2.Ex-husband owner of a fish market and descendant of Al Capone, whose father was a Republican leader and who also had little money during the divorce proceeding is able to remarry, divorce, and remarry. Judge McNulty then gives custody of the children to the father on the recommendation of a suspected alcoholic Law Guardian. The children must move 300 miles to Albany and live with 7 children from 3 marriages and have little supervision. When the mother seeks to return to the care of her children, Judge Marion McNulty (S.Mat.)washes her hands of her judicial responsibility.3.Husband owns a business, is remarried with kids, lives upscale yet submits income of $40000/ year and buys a $50,000 car. The courts have no penalty for perjury and submitting false documents to court.
*****************************************************************************
The Australian Gov. is changing the way divorcing couples with children settle their disputes with compulsory dispute resolution/mandatory mediation. Other countries are considering similar laws. (Chris DiMaggio)
*****************************************************************************
“How to Fight Your Traffic Ticket and Win” ($15) by Avenir Int. Publishing www.newebpage.com
*****************************************************************************
Pres. Reagan’s idea was individual liberty, both internationally and domestically. Individual freedoms are derived from God, not from government and government should protect those freedoms and never violate them. America does best when it’s people are left free to work in their individual self-interest, to improve their own lives and the lives of their families. (Imprimis 1/09)
*****************************************************************************
Congress voted for an 1100 page “stimulus” which imposed expanded welfare and unemployment in NYS. Once money is exhausted taxpayers will have to pick up the costs on their own.( Lawrence Gray Esq.)
*****************************************************************************
Pat Vecchio, Smithtown Supervisor, received $1500 event tickets, $236 tuxedo expense, $2500 for Saab service, car care $250, cell phone ++ from “friends of Pat Vecchio” and is paid $111,000/year by the town. (Lawrence Gray Esq.)
*****************************************************************************
One percent of NYC households pay 50% of the taxes, 50% pay nothing. 30% get government money. (NY Post D. Seifman 2/14/09))
*****************************************************************************
It is common in American courtrooms for judges to hear cases involving litigants who have contributed to or spent money to support their campaigns (NY Times 2/15/09)
*****************************************************************************
“You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people’s initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves”. Abraham Lincoln
*****************************************************************************
Westchester Supreme Court Judge Joseph Allessandro should be kicked off the bench for trying to cheat his campaign manager out of $250,000 says The Commission on Judicial Conduct. (Journal News 2/23/09)
*****************************************************************************
As we enter a recession, more Americans are choosing to represent themselves in court even when there are complex issues. HALT provides pro se litigants with legal guides to assist in these matters. In CA,80% go pro se.(Halt 3/09)
*****************************************************************************
The Rachel Foundation provides family programs for parents and children to rebuild damaged family bonds through a day-to-day living, structured environment, usually court appointed.(www.rachelfoundation.org)
*****************************************************************************
Check it out- HR 45 seeks the complete confiscation of all guns. (If you take away the guns only the criminals will have them. ALR April 2008 Newsletter)
*****************************************************************************
Minds are like parachutes. Just because you lost yours doesn’t mean you can borrow mine.
*****************************************************************************
NYS Comptroller DiNapoli is working to find and fight fraud. Report allegations of fraud and corruption. Ph# 888-672-4555
*****************************************************************************
US Tax Code in 2006 had 16,000 pages, in 2008 it had 67,000 and in 2009 it has 97,000 pages. (US Government Printing Office)
*****************************************************************************
Fannie Mae, the nations biggest writer of mortgages, is under pressure from the Administration to expand loans to low income people and maintain its’ growth. (NY Times 9/30/1999)