The Family Court Circus

Judge Jacqueline Ricciani

Ulster County Family Court is facing intense public scrutiny as Judge Jacqueline Ricciani prepares for a high-stakes emergency hearing involving attorney Elizabeth Faulkner, attorney Heather Harp, and Kingston resident Paul Gillis. Critics claim the trio has orchestrated an “opaque and alarming custody campaign,” raising questions about secrecy, emergency procedures, and alleged misuse of parens patriae powers. A popular watchdog blog has amplified these concerns, accusing court insiders of shielding questionable decisions from public view. With a new hearing set for November 19, pressure mounts on Judge Ricciani as citizens demand transparency, accountability, and protection for the child at the center of the dispute.

The Indefinablity of Jew: The surge in antisemitism exposes a legal crisis. Without a clear definition, hate-crime protections risk collapse.

The Indefinability of Jew

American law is caught in a bizarre identity crisis: It cannot define what a “Jew” is. As antisemitism soars, prosecutors and politicians sound alarms, but they can’t answer the basic question their laws require. Is a Jew a race? A religion? An ethnicity? All of the above? None? Hate-crime statutes demand clear subject classes—like Black, Woman, Gay, or Muslim. But “Jew” defies every legal box. If we can’t define the protected class, we can’t define the crime. And unless lawmakers solve this definitional black hole fast, America may discover that its antisemitism protections were built on sand.

Preacher-Turned-Politician Leads Family Court Reform

South Carolina firebrand Gil Gatch is done watching families get steamrolled by a family-court system he says rewards bias, secrecy, and incompetence. The former minister and Georgetown-trained lawyer is pushing bold reforms to rein in guardian ad litem abuses, shut down backdoor deals, and restore judicial accountability. In an exclusive interview, Gatch explains why GALs have become “the judge in a lot of circumstances,” how temporary orders trap parents for years, and why he distrusts slow-rolling ad hoc committees. Meanwhile, Arizona and Idaho lawmakers are proving that sunlight-driven investigations can force long-overdue reforms. The battle for America’s children is underway.

Deaf Mom Mega Influencer Taci Belisle Fights Violent Felon Ex in Family Court Circus

Deaf mega-influencer Taci Belisle, a mother of three with over 3 million followers, is locked in a brutal interstate custody war against her ex-husband—a convicted kidnapper and violent felon. Belisle, the full-time caregiver of her terminally ill son Ryder, says the family court system has become a “circus” that enables abusers while silencing victims. Judges in Washington and Ohio now clash over jurisdiction, while attorneys bend the rules and mock her pleas for protection. “If it can happen to me, it can happen to you,” Belisle warns, as she fights to keep her children safe from a system gone mad.

Lights Camera Perjury

Christopher Ambrose’s latest legal stunt fell flat. The disgraced Hollywood writer-turned-litigator tried to convince a federal judge that he’d personally served investigative journalist Frank Parlato with a defamation lawsuit—but the proof didn’t match his claim. The deputy’s own notes showed no service was made. Judge Sarala Nagala swiftly denied Ambrose’s motion, keeping Parlato’s extended response deadline intact and refusing to make him pay Ambrose’s $40 “service fee.” For Ambrose—already infamous for plagiarizing a Bones script and losing his first lawsuit—it’s another credibility collapse in a saga defined by deceit, desperation, and bad process.

FOIA Bombshell Reveals Child Sex Trafficking Fears

A Freedom of Information Act bombshell has rocked Illinois. FOIA documents obtained by State House candidate Bailey Templeton reveal 166 foster children vanished from DCFS custody in 2024—a 935% spike from prior years. Templeton says the state’s child welfare agency is “cooking the books” to hide a disaster that may conceal a child sex trafficking ring. Law enforcement sources told The Family Court Circus the figures are “highly suspect” and “it would be shocking if a trafficking ring wasn’t operating under DCFS’s nose.” Meanwhile, Governor Pritzker and DCFS officials remain silent.

Criminal Undertones: CT Judge and Cops Accused of Jailing Blogger for Opinions

A Connecticut free-speech case is exploding into a full-blown constitutional controversy. Local blogger Robert Pabich was arrested after posting online criticisms of State Senator Matt Lesser, sparking outrage among civil-liberties advocates who say Rocky Hill police and Judge Jesse Giddings trampled the First Amendment. Officers used a “risk warrant” to seize Pabich’s firearms before charging him with stalking and disorderly conduct—based solely on political expression. Critics say this criminalizes dissent and weaponizes the justice system against unpopular viewpoints. The case has become a flashpoint in the national debate over hate-speech laws, judicial bias, and freedom of political speech.

Maryland Admits Nearly 1,000 Foster Children Missing Since 2020 — Most Are Teenage Girls

In a letter released on October 22, 2025, Maryland’s Department of Human Services (DHS) confirmed what advocates had long suspected but could never prove: 990 children in state foster care have been reported missing between January 1, 2020, and August 17, 2025. The data, disclosed through an MPIA request filed by survivor-advocates Jennifer Guskin and Bailey Templeton, offers the first detailed look at how many children disappear while under Maryland’s supervision—and how quietly the system has been redefining what “missing” means. “Let that sink in—nearly 1,000 children under state supervision have gone missing in just five years,” Guskin said. “Most are teenage girls, and even toddlers are being labeled as… Read More »Maryland Admits Nearly 1,000 Foster Children Missing Since 2020 — Most Are Teenage Girls

Judge Sarah Rakov

Ulster County Family Court Judge Sarah Rakov is under scrutiny for an emergency custody order that critics say stripped a mother of her rights without due process. The order—signed at the request of attorney Elizabeth Faulkner—was issued without a child-protective-services referral or evidentiary hearing. Court observers argue the move violated fundamental constitutional safeguards and mirrors a wider pattern of questionable emergency rulings across New York’s family courts. Rakov later recused herself, prompting questions about transparency, oversight, and how an order of such magnitude could have been signed in the first place.

The Moral Economy of Neglect: How Maryland’s “Compassionate Governance” Betrays Its Foster Children

This investigation is part of MDBayNews’ coverage of child-welfare oversight in Maryland. All claims are sourced to primary documents or peer-reviewed research and independently verified where possible. No public funds, government contracts, or advocacy-group sponsorships influenced this reporting. As of October 15, 2025 — New developments have deepened Maryland’s foster-care scandal. DHS has formally suspended Fenwick Behavioral Services—the contractor supervising Kanaiyah Ward at the time of her death—pending an internal review. A legislative workgroup tasked with recommending reforms missed its October 10 deadline, drawing bipartisan criticism. Meanwhile, “Kanaiyah’s Law” is gaining co-sponsors across party lines, with hearings expected later this fall even as the state continues to house children in… Read More »The Moral Economy of Neglect: How Maryland’s “Compassionate Governance” Betrays Its Foster Children

Black Widow’s 400‑Page Meltdown

Elizabeth Faulkner, known across the Hudson Valley as the “Ulster County Black Widow,” just hit a wall. Her 400-page legal broadside against protective mother Helen Garber—stuffed with falsehoods and personal vendettas—was swatted down by Judge Sarah Rakov, who recused herself rather than dignify the spectacle. According to Family Court Fraud Warrior Project founder Dave Weigel, Faulkner’s motion was “a smear campaign dressed up as law.” Court insiders say it was pure retaliation—an attempt to jail Garber and steal her child. But this time, the Black Widow’s web may finally be unraveling under public scrutiny and legal sunlight.

The Hidden War: Inside America’s Military Family Court Crisis

For years, the Department of Defense’s Family Advocacy Program (FAP) has operated as a hidden court system — issuing life-altering judgments without judges, lawyers, or appeals. What began as a protective mission for military families has morphed into an opaque bureaucracy capable of labeling service members as “abusers,” ending careers, and driving suicides—all in secret. “We track lost weapons more carefully than we track lost parents,” says one DoD insider. The Hidden War series by Fatherand.Co and The Thunder Report exposes how this shadow system destroys the very families it claims to protect—and why Congress can no longer look away.

The Hateful Eight: Connecticut case charges a blogger for speech without identifying the alleged threats. A new test for the First Amendment.

The Hateful Eight: Nutmeg Edition

After nearly a decade of Connecticut officials hunting for a speech crime, prosecutors have now charged a blogger with “true threats” based on eight online posts — but they refuse to say which words crossed the line. The case, led by Chief State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin and Judge Peter Brown, raises a chilling question: can the government criminalize political commentary it doesn’t like?
Critics say it’s the latest episode in Connecticut’s long campaign to silence dissent under the guise of “hate speech.” Supporters call it accountability. Either way, the state’s handling of the so-called Hateful Eight may redefine free expression in America’s courts.

Fake Family Justice Act: Families duped by nonexistent Family Justice & Accountability Act. No bill, no lawmakers — just false hope.

Fake Family Justice Act: Rep. Moore, Sen. Grassley Say No Congressional Hearing or Bill Exists

Families from across America traveled to Washington, D.C., believing they’d testify before Congress about family court reform. Instead, they found themselves in a library, not a hearing room. Despite claims that Rep. Barry Moore and Sen. Chuck Grassley sponsored the “Family Justice & Accountability Act,” congressional staff confirm no such bill exists. The event — promoted by advocate Francesca Amato — was a private meeting, not a government hearing. Attendees say they were misled, calling the experience “devastating.” The controversy exposes a growing pattern of misinformation that threatens to undermine legitimate reform efforts nationwide.

Stalking Zealots

A growing debate in Connecticut highlights the collision between online activism and the First Amendment. Critics say certain watchdog groups, including StopAntisemitism.org, blur the line between public accountability and digital harassment by naming and shaming individuals for controversial opinions. Supporters call it justified exposure; opponents call it censorship. With Governor Ned Lamont’s Hate Crimes Council expanding its reach, free-speech advocates warn of state-endorsed policing of thought. The question is simple but profound: when does fighting hate become hating dissent?

The $405 Lie: Christopher Ambrose’s his psychopathy. His false affidavit proved Dr. Bandy X. Lee’s diagnosis in his own words.

The $405 Lie: How a Fallen TV Writer Exposed His Own Psychopathy

Hollywood screenwriter Christopher Ambrose, once a rising name behind Bones, fell from grace after a plagiarism scandal. Back in Connecticut with millions in assets but no job, he weaponized “parental alienation” to strip his ex-wife of their children. Psychiatrist Dr. Bandy X. Lee later diagnosed him as exhibiting “full-blown psychopathy,” warning of his danger. Ambrose’s response? Sue her—then lie under oath to save $405 in filing fees. His deceit-filled affidavit exposed everything: hidden wealth, fake hardship, and government benefits he’d already been collecting. In trying to prove he wasn’t a psychopath, Ambrose proved Dr. Lee right—in writing.

Black Widow Lawyer Seductress and Destroyer

In Ulster County, New York, a lawyer dubbed the “Black Widow” has spun a web of deceit around the family court system. Elizabeth Faulkner, infamous for seducing and marrying her clients, now stands accused of masterminding a courtroom racket built on lies, intimidation, and sex-for-service deals. Nurse practitioner Helen Garber dared to expose her—and paid the price. Missing evidence, gag orders, and judicial cover-ups followed. Investigative journalists Richard Luthmann and Michael Volpe, with Family Court watchdog Dave Weigel, are pulling back the curtain on what they call “a court of injustice.” The question: Who will stop it?

ORANGE COUNTY’S BABY SNATCHERS

On April 10, 2024, Orange County officials—led by OCDA Investigator Joe Faria and Newport Beach Detective Mike Fletcher—stormed a Costa Mesa parking lot, seizing two toddlers from their protective mother, Joy Houghton. The raid, ordered by Deputy DA Tammy Jacobs and endorsed by Judge James Waltz, was conducted on behalf of Gareth Naar, a man freshly convicted in Australia of domestic violence and stalking. What followed was a five-day courtroom ordeal where the abuser was rewarded custody, and the victim criminalized—a shocking abuse of power that exposes systemic corruption within Orange County’s family courts.

VAWA’s Witch’s Brew: Richard Luthmann exposes how billions fuel court corruption, false abuse claims, and bias under the guise of “justice.”

VAWA Witches Brew: Luthmann Breaks the Spell

“VAWA’s Witch’s Brew” is a fiery takedown of the Violence Against Women Act’s modern incarnation—a law that began with noble intent but now funds bureaucracy and bias. Richard Luthmann rips into the “witches” who defend VAWA as gender-neutral, exposing how billions in grants have turned courts into profit machines, judges into accountants, and families into fuel. In a system where allegations mean dollars, justice dies by paperwork. Luthmann’s blunt fix: limit family courts to property and custody. “Judges aren’t Solomon—they’re accountants with gavels.” VAWA’s spell is broken; accountability is the new magic word.

I'll Sue You: “Federal bill” author Francesca Amato loses IRS status, threatens journalists, and faces backlash for alleged self-enrichment.

I’LL SUE YOU!: Francesca Amato’s Legal Lesson

Francesca Amato, the self-proclaimed “author” of a federal bill, is under fire for threatening journalist Michael Volpe with a defamation suit after he fact-checked her Family Justice & Accountability Act — a “bill” that doesn’t exist in Congress. Her nonprofit lost tax-exempt status, she once paid herself 80% of donations, and her cease-and-desist letters read more like tantrums than legal threats. Critics say she’s misleading desperate parents for fame, not reform. Is Amato a fearless advocate—or just another back-biter capitalizing on chaos? Richard Luthmann’s scorching inquiry and IRS revelations demand answers she refuses to give.