Fathers' protests stir law society

By DEBORAH DIAZ

Auckland District Law Society is trying to broker a truce with protesters against Family Court lawyers.

Fathers' rights groups have staged weekend protests for months outside the houses of lawyers, judges and court-appointed psychologists, as well as targeting court buildings and MPs.

The "botherings", as organiser and men's advocate Jim Bagnall calls them, have frightened lawyers' children, led to the arrest of a woman for squirting a hose at protesters, and rocks have been thrown. Top Family Court judge Peter Boshier accused the men of pursuing vendettas because cases had not gone their way.

Protests have been held in Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Palmerston North and Havelock North. In the latest, in Auckland's Grey Lynn, a group set up with banners including a swastika and shouted "Give back our children". They accused lawyers' families of living off fathers' misery.

Auckland's law society has called a meeting for tonight to try "to progress things". President Gary Gotlieb said he told the protesters he would meet them if the protests paused, but he had to talk to society membership first.

The society accepted a forum was needed to identify and resolve real, if rare, miscarriages of justice in the Family Court, he said.
Retired judge Sir Thomas Thorpe had recommended the Government set up a Miscarriages of Justice Commission, and such a body might also look at Family Court cases.

But the protesters were going about things the wrong way, he said, with individual lawyers attacked simply for representing a client in acrimonious cases where a winner and a loser were inevitable.

He believed legal action against protesters was possible, but would prefer a constructive truce.
Protesters say the Family Court is biased and unfairly gives mothers custody, depriving men of contact with their children. They say it is too easy for a parent to make unsubstantiated allegations against the other.

Mr Bagnall said the protest group wanted a way for parents to resolve issues outside the courtroom, as less formal discussions could take some heat out of the process. The law society had been asked to consider acting as a go-between in such cases.

Mr Gotlieb said the society could not act on particular cases, but could advocate systemic changes.

Domestic Violence Against Men, Is it Real?

In our society there is much talk and funding about programs that support the stopping of domestic violence. However, these programs without question are geared towards for women and children. For the sake of conversation we will leave children out of it for the moment. Most, if not damn near all of these programs are for women. The entire notion of domestic violence is primarily focused of male violence against women. Just say the words [domestic violence] and instantly images of men in A-cut undershirts beating their wives and girlfriends is conjured. Men are victims of domestic violence as well. There is not a rational person that would disagree with that, however society at large as a whole believes this fairy tale notion that domestic violence against men is a joke.

Domestic Violence Against Men, Is it Real?

Hose ends fathers' protest outside lawyer's home

Tuesday August 1, 2006
By Louisa Cleave

Protesters from a fathers' group were squirted with a hose and had rocks thrown at them as they demonstrated outside the home of an Auckland lawyer.
About 20 men and women were protesting with banners and megaphones outside the Pt Chevalier home of Ross France when a woman came from behind a hedge and turned a hose on them.
Protest organiser Jim Bagnall said medium-sized scoria rocks were also hurled at the group but no one was hit.
"The rocks missed but they were aimed at our feet," he said. "She was screaming out at people to 'go home'. Well, we weren't going to go home for 15 minutes. We did tell her that."
Mr France refused to comment on the incident. When approached yesterday, his wife, Ina Kara-France, would also not comment.
Acting Sergeant Scott Leonard said police had investigated and a woman would appear in court on a charge of common assault.
He said the protest on Sunday had become heated but the alleged assault was "at the lower end of the scale".
Fathers' groups, including the Union of Fathers, have been staging noisy protests outside the homes of Family Court judges and lawyers, complaining they are treated unjustly.
It was the second time they had targeted Mr France's home in as many months.
In May, Principal Family Court Judge Peter Boshier said protesters were going beyond acceptable limits.
"It has all the hallmarks of personal vendetta by individuals who do not respect the legitimacy of the court," he said.
Mr Bagnall said the soaking would not deter the protesters.
"Some of the guys were saying this is the most fun they've had for ages."

Fathers face resistance

30/07/2006 16:04:02

A Fathers' Union protest took an unexpected turn in Auckland this afternoon. The Union has been spending the day travelling to various Family Court judges and solicitors homes protesting at what it says is unfair rulings against fathers.
Spokesman Jim Bagnall says a protest outside a Mt Albert home became interesting when a woman and boy came out of the house and, he alleges, started throwing water and a rock at the protestors.
Police were called to the scene. No one was hurt in the incident and it is not yet clear whether charges will be laid.