Arizona Lawmakers Expose Corruption, Murdered Children, and a Billion-Dollar Custody Cartel
‘Killer Family Courts’
Sep 15, 2025
Since my testimonies before the Arizona and the Idaho legislatures on Family Court violence, there have been additional hearings both in Idaho and in Arizona.
I have always underscored the need to cover Family Court abuses in terms of preventable killings from murder, mayhem, and suicide — and to leave behind the convoluted legal and academic verbiage intended to appease or to appear “professional”.
Only so would we call attention to the true toll of Family Courts on human life, in stark medical terms.
Not to do this is to fall short of appreciating the real severity of this national emergency — and to succumb to a Battered Nation Syndrome.
Now, after more than three years since I have urged this clarity, legislatures are hearing it, and journalists are covering it:
Arizona’s Final Committee Hearing on Family Court Failures and the National Reform It Demands
Published September 4, 2025
Arizona’s Final Committee Hearing on Family Court Failures and the National Reform It Demands
ARIZONA JOINT LEGISLATIVE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON FAMILY COURT ORDERS, Hearing No. 4 — Kathy Sherlock, Danielle Pollack and Attorney Michael G. Moore, and More Testify
SUMMARY: Arizona’s final legislative hearing on family court failures revealed devastating systemic breakdowns, including how profit motives, discredited abuse theories, and judicial overreach have endangered thousands of children. Kathy Sherlock, whose daughter Kayden was murdered after court-ordered visitation, joined Danielle Pollack, attorney Michael Moore, and lawmakers in calling for sweeping reform. This article documents their testimony and the road ahead.
PHOENIX, Ariz. — The final hearing of Arizona’s Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Family Court Orders ended not with procedure—but with purpose.
On August 27, 2025, Danielle Pollack, policy manager at the National Family Violence Law Center and lead architect behind Kayden’s Law, and Kathy Sherlock, mother of 7-year-old Kayden Mancuso, delivered some of the most devastating and urgent testimony of the committee’s months-long investigation. They were joined by parents, whistleblowers, and civil rights attorneys who exposed systemic failures in Arizona’s family court and child welfare systems.
Among them was trial attorney Michael Garth Moore, who testified that the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) receives between 10,000 and 12,000 complaints annually—yet rarely investigates them and lacks any real accountability.
This is one of the most important videos you will ever watch.
Think this doesn’t affect you? It does.
Every family in America — and around the world — is impacted.
Watch this hearing. Share it. Remember it.
“The center of the universe in family court is billable hours—attorneys, therapists, evaluators—all while children are harmed and safe parents are drained.” — 00:46:12
“It’s a for-profit system. Not a child safety system.” — 00:44:09
“95 to 99 percent of the time, children are right about who they feel safe with.” — 00:48:30
“I’ve seen guardians suppress children’s voices, misrepresent their wishes. Instead, we need attorneys for children, who must advocate for what the child says.” — 00:50:33
“Judicial immunity is a judge-created doctrine. It’s not found in the Constitution. So it can be reversed.” —01:47:27
“She Tried to Run”: Kathy Sherlock’s Testimony and the Origins of Kayden’s Law
Kayden’s death wasn’t a tragic anomaly—it was the foreseeable result of institutional failure.
For 18 months, Kathy Sherlock warned judges, custody evaluators, police, CPS workers, and school officials that her ex-partner was dangerous. Instead of protecting her or her daughter, she was accused of “parental alienation”—a now-infamous tactic used by abusers to discredit protective parents. Her pleas were ignored.
In May 2018, a judge overruled her objections to unsupervised visitation. Three months later, during one of those court-ordered visits, Kayden was murdered by her father.
“He beat her with a 35-pound dumbbell, tied a plastic bag around her head, and secured it with an iPhone charging cord,” Sherlock testified.
“She died trying to run. I had told her—if you ever feel scared, run. And she tried to. But she didn’t make it out in time.”
This wasn’t a custody dispute. It was a complete failure of every system designed to protect children.
“Court was used to intimidate, control, bankrupt, and punish me,” Sherlock said. “I begged everyone—my attorney, CPS, police, the school. No one helped. And now my daughter is dead.”
Sherlock also endorsed Framed: Women in the Family Court Underworld, a new book compiled by Dr. Christine Cocchiola and Amy Polacko featuring 23 stories of children harmed—or killed—after courts dismissed abuse allegations. Sherlock is the only named survivor.
“Framed is not a should-read — it’s a must-read,” she said. “It’s both a playbook and a warning.”
Following Sherlock’s gut-wrenching testimony, policy expert Danielle Pollack brought a national lens to the hearing, laying bare how cases like Kayden’s aren’t isolated—they’re the norm.
Danielle Pollack Testifies: A National Crisis in Family Court
In the August 27 hearing, Danielle Pollack, policy manager at the National Family Violence Law Center and founder of the National Safe Parents Organization, delivered a sweeping and sobering account of what she called a nationwide human rights crisis inside America’s family courts.
Pollack, who co-authored Kayden’s Law—a 2022 federal reform enacted as Title XV of the Violence Against Women Act—warned lawmakers that family courts are systematically failing children, prioritizing parental rights and professional profits over safety. “Kayden is one of many children—one of hundreds, if not thousands—who has been murdered by an abuser parent after a court was involved,” she told the panel.
From there, Pollack outlined a grim series of cases where protective parents raised serious abuse allegations—only to be ignored, punished, or stripped of custody. Children were left in the hands of abusers, and some were later murdered, she said, naming victims including Grayson (Florida), Om (Utah), Piqui (California), Kyra (New York), and Tommy Valva (New York).
Pollack explained that the courts operate under a “pro-contact culture”—a framework that values parental access over verified abuse evidence and often leans on the debunked concept of parental alienation. She described cases in which mothers were accused of “gatekeeping” or “alienation” simply for trying to protect their children, and recounted numerous cases ending in murder.
“It doesn't make sense in any world.”
When Senator Mark Finchem challenged the use of unverified theories—particularly the vague and widely disputed definition of parental alienation—he asked Pollack to provide the empirical sources referenced in the congressional findings tied to Kayden’s Law. Pollack agreed to submit the footnotes, then turned to what she described as a central force behind the discrediting of child abuse claims in family court: the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). According to Pollack, AFCC is a for-profit trade organization that has heavily influenced custody policy for decades—often to the detriment of protective parents and children. Finchem noted that AFCC was “holding seminars around the country vilifying Kayden’s Law,” adding: “Now to me, that’s a measure of just how over the target you are on abuse in the court system—by individuals who are focused on billable hours as opposed to rapid, effective outcomes.”
“The AFCC is not like the American Academy of Pediatrics. It’s a trade group,” Pollack testified at 00:38:36. “They have been influencing custody policy for decades—and this is a large part of why we are in the state we are in.” She described how AFCC-affiliated professionals have “shaped statutes not through legitimate research or trauma expertise, but by embedding profit-driven, unscientific ideas that discredit abuse claims and endanger children.”
As an example, Pollack highlighted the high-profile case of a Wisconsin mother (Julie Valadez), who had previously won her appeal but was denied relief in the trial court and later jailed after her child fled the abusive father. “She faces 25 years in prison—for protecting her own child,” Pollack told the panel.
Readers can learn more about Valadez’s case through my in-depth coverage: BREAKING: Anonymous Donor Posts $500K Bail to Free Julie Valadez as Family and Criminal Courts Ignore Appellate Reversal
When Finchem asked whether quasi-judicial immunity for third-party evaluators was addressed in Kayden’s Law, Pollack replied that it wasn’t—but acknowledged that the immunity shield was “a crucial issue,” now being challenged in some state courts like Pennsylvania.
Representative Lisa Fink then asked a critical question: “If the courts actually listened to what children want—how often would they get it right?”
“In the overwhelming majority,” Pollack replied. “Children know who they feel safe with. Even toddlers can express fear.” She explained that therapists who treat the trauma are often replaced in court by “alienation experts,” while guardians ad litem frequently suppress or misrepresent what children actually say.
Instead, she advocated for a legal representation model, in which children have attorneys—not GALs—who are obligated to express their clients’ actual wishes. “GALs represent ‘best interests’—but that’s just their opinion,” she said. “An attorney for the child must convey exactly what the child says. That’s what real representation looks like.
In Orange County, California family court “minors’ counsel” operate as GALs not as attorneys.
Also in California, Piqui’s Law—a lesser version of Kayden’s Law that went into effect in January 2023—is still not being implemented or enforced in many courts. Minors’ counsel, therapists, evaluators, and judges continue to ignore its mandates.
“Begin Relying on Actual Abuse Experts”: Pollack Calls Out Profit Motive in Family Court
When Representative Rachel Keshel asked what single factor had led courts so far astray from prioritizing the best interests of the child doctrine, Pollack didn’t hesitate:
“Begin relying on actual abuse experts—not people who are interested in profiting.”
Pollack explained that the root problem lies in the privatized structure of family court, where litigants pay out of pocket for nearly every actor involved—attorneys, evaluators, therapists, and so-called experts.
“This is private custody I’m talking about,” Pollack said. “The litigants are private, the attorneys are all private pay. You don’t get a public defender in private custody. The experts, the evaluators—they’re all paid out of the pocket of litigants.” (00:43:47–00:44:01)
Listening to the Children: Rep. Fink Challenges Court Failures
Representative Lisa Fink raised a pointed question: What if courts simply listened to children?
Reflecting on a bill she had introduced to give children age 14 and older the right to be heard, Fink admitted even that reform wouldn’t have saved Kayden.
“In regards to children, the children aren’t being listened to.”
Fink asked Pollack whether courts would get it right more often if they honored children’s stated preferences.
“If that court would actually listen… if they did what the children wanted, 95–99% of the time, they would be correct.”
Pollack agreed without hesitation:
“I would say in the overwhelming majority, yes.”
Noting that while some children are threatened by abusers, most clearly express where they feel safe.
“Even young children— on the whole, in general, kids know who they feel safe with.”
Michael G. Moore: DCS, Due Process, and Judicial Immunity
Trial attorney Michael G. Moore, who has spent four decades suing child welfare agencies, like Arizona Department of Child Safety, told lawmakers:
“I appear here today to attempt to convince you all to put me out of work.”
He delivered searing testimony about DCS’s Ombudsman’s Office, citing admissions from staffer Sarah Bruce:
“She doesn’t advocate for the parents. She doesn’t advocate for the family.”
Instead, Bruce’s role is to relay explanations from DCS investigators back to complainants—without conducting investigations.
“That is considered a satisfactory resolution according to DCS.”
Moore urged the committee to request case data, revealing:
“There are between 10,000 and 12,000 complaints lodged with the Ombudsman’s Office annually. And they’re all resolved the same way.”
He concluded:
“DCS does not hold it’s people accountable for violating constitutional rights.”
Moore also warned that DCS investigators operate like law enforcement without the training—entering homes, removing children, and filing court referrals without POST certification or constitutional knowledge.
Rep. Rachel Keshel challenged DCS’s claim of being “self-governing,” reminding the committee and attendees that the Legislature and Governor have oversight. Also mentioned a full audit is planned for Fall 2025.
Rep. Lisa Fink Challenges Judicial Immunity in Family Court Failures
During the final hearing of Arizona’s Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Family Court Orders, Representative Lisa Fink raised a pointed constitutional challenge to family court judges who remove children from protective parents without cause or due process.
“I consider parental rights a Ninth Amendment right,” Fink asserted. They’ve been denied that right —without documentation, without due process.”
Her statement followed a broader observation she shared with the panel and witness:
“What I have seen is that judges have basically taken parental rights away from—the good parent, without any due process.”
Fink turned to Moore and asked directly:
“How would you hold them accountable for not following the law?”
Moore, while careful to qualify that his primary work lies in the federal arena, did not shy away from the legal implications. He confirmed what many parents and advocates have long feared:
“In the federal system, a judge is absolutely immune from consequences outside of being reversed on appeal. We know that.”
He acknowledged the likely parallel in state systems and offered a rare but potent avenue for accountability:
“I would look to legislation which specifically removes judicial immunity under certain circumstances… I believe there would be a constitutional way to do that, because obviously judicial immunity is a judge-created doctrine. It’s not found in the Constitution.
So it can be reversed.”
Lawmakers Challenge Judicial Rulemaking Power
Sen. Mark Finchem issued a direct warning to Arizona’s judiciary:
“We are now questioning rulemaking authority—and I know the judges are watching this—so be forewarned. If that carries the weight of law, it’s a separation of powers issue that must come before the Legislature for approval.”
He added:
“It’s judge-made law.”
Rep. Keshel — We Want Your Voices Heard
After hours of expert testimony, Rep. Rachel Keshel opened the floor to impacted parents who had traveled from across the state and country to attend the hearing. Acknowledging the emotional weight and limited time for public comment, she offered a message of hope and future engagement:
“You’ll each have three minutes to testify,” Keshel said. “And I just want to encourage you all—if you don’t get a chance to speak, we are going to have a lot of legislation starting in January that we’ll need your help coming to the committees and testifying on. So we want to have your voices heard at some point.”
What’s Next: Legislative Action in 2026 and Beyond
Committee Members included:
Sen. Mark Finchem (Chair)
Rep. Rachel Keshel (Co-Chair)
Rep. Lisa Fink
Rep. Betty J. Villegas
Sen. Wendy Rogers
Sen. Theresa Hatathlie
Sen. Hildy Angius (Temporary Appointee)
Several members expressed strong support for the testimonies and pledged to pursue 2026 legislation informed by the findings.
Editor’s Note:
Kayden’s Law — Title XV of the 2022 Violence Against Women Act — is formally titled the Keeping Children Safe From Family Violence Act.
Learn more: https://www.nationalsafeparents.org/kaydens-law
This ongoing series on the OC family court crisis and nationwide family court crisis aims to bring national attention to these systemic issues, advocating for immediate reform and accountability. The time for action is now. It is imperative that lawmakers, the media, and the public unite to demand justice and protection for all families involved.
Are you committed to protecting America’s children and restoring integrity to our legal system?
Contact your legislative representatives. Speak out. Reach out to media outlets. And vote. Find your state and federal legislative representatives HERE.
Whistleblowers and victims of family court, CPS, probate court, IDEA/ADA or foster care corruption anywhere in the U.S.—please contact this reporter at juliea005@proton.me or rjh.investigative.reports@gmail.com.
Together, we can ignite a national movement and create lasting change.
Julie M. Anderson-Holburn is a California-based investigative journalistreporting on criminal and family court corruption, judicial abuse, and systemic failures. Her work is published on NewsBreak, Substack, and The Family Court Circus, and has been featured by the Center for Judicial Excellence and National Safe Parents. Julie believes that exposing the truth is the first step toward meaningful reform.
This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Thank you.
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