SECTION SUMMARY
Attorneys and judges go to great lengths to make sure kids are only heard by those who can bill for listening.

Fortunately, reporters who listen discover, although adults claim to value their thoughts and communication skills,

None of that it true. Children are increasing viewed as a fee source for lazy attorneys, and really bad therapists.

 

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SAN FRANCISCO DAILY JOURNAL

FORUM

Monday, July 17, 2000

LETTING CHILDREN SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

Youth in Court Need Attorneys Who Represents Their Interests Fairly,Strongly

By Alanna Krause

Hundreds of years of legal history have lead the United States to implementa system that ensures that every party in a legal proceeding gets a voice.We rest assured that, unlike in other nations, we can not be incarceratedwithout our day in court, lawyer by our side. What a country we live in: socivilized, so well thought out. God bless America.

But there is a forgotten minority that is not afforded these basic rights.They are not criminals or foreign aliens. In contrast, they are a group weall hold dear - one innocent and well meaning, with no hidden agendas ortwisted motives - children.

Instead of actually being represented, children get their "best interests"represented by adults. We children have no choice and no recourse when thoseadults have their own agendas. A case in point? Mine.

My parents separated when I was 5-years-old, sparking a custody battle thatlasted nine years. I never doubted that I wanted to be with my mother. Myfather Marshall Krause, is an abuser, and living with him was a mental andphysicalhell and definitely not in my best interests. Yet, In Marin Family Court,that seemed to be irrelevant. My family court experience consisted oflawyers, judges, evaluators and social workers who turned their backs ontheir consciences and their professional oaths. They're worked contrary tonot only my best interests, but to my health and safety.

My father, a wealthy and well-connected lawyer, used his influence and moneyto manipulate the system. And he didn't work alone. The court-appointedevaluator, Edward Oklan, M.D., fell under his spell and ignored my reportsof my father's abuse of drugs and of me. The lawyer appointed to representmy "best interests" Sandra Acevedo, spent her allotted time with meparroting my father's words, attempting toconvince me that I really wanted to live with him. She ignored my reports ofabuse. And the therapist my father made me see, Lana Clark, LCSW, was farfrom objective - she was sleeping with him.

The judge, Sylvia Shapiro

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