Comments left on Globe & Mail re slowness in our legal System

November 11, 2008 I left the below comments on the Globe and mail web site in response to a Clayton Ruby op-ed piece on the slowness of our legal system (I don't use the word justice system) and an editorial on the same topic. Mr. Ruby's comments are here http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081110.wcotrial11/BNStory and the editorial is here. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081110.webail11/BNStory/specialComment The legal system has different branches. Superior court judges do criminal, civil and family law cases. Like any problem it has to be broken into smaller bites to resolve. I for one believe the family law system is in need of great change which would free resources for other areas of law. One major change would be to change the divorce act to a presumption of shared and equal parenting for both parents barring abuse. This will reduce court time and likely reduce the divorce rate. Currently we have a highly biased legal system that gives custody and many financial entitlements to females in over 90% of contested and uncontested cases. This is not justice this is discrimination based on gender. If a parent knows they are going to get custody, child support, government cheques, spousal support, the family home and indirectly control of your ex through all this then eh, go for it says most family lawyers in Canada. They pocket a lot of money from the devastating results. Father removal from their children by family courts also likely contributes to the increase in gang gun violence along with a whole plethora of other social issues. What if this helps further reduce crime and thus the burden on the courts. There is more - but it will appear in my book when finished. My goodness have I globbed onto something here? Is there any politicians besides two dozen or so at the federal level listening. Hopefully these brave family oriented MP's can help change the fundamentals of family destruction in our country. Hopefully they can help keep those father's who want to stay part of their children's lives beyond visiting 14% of the month involved on an ongoing basis as real parents.