Why Arizona’s Family Court Hearings Give Me Hope

What public testimony is revealing about custody, coercion, and the courts

As many of you know, I’m an independent journalist reporting on accountability gaps in the family court system. While Substack has given us the gift of building our own platform and community, I’m always looking for opportunities to expand this work into more established media spaces—spaces where family court failures still get too little attention.

Lately, I’ve been working on a new fellowship proposal focused on family court. Thank you, as always, for your patience with a slight slowdown in posts— I’m still on the case, just approaching it from another angle.

• In the past I’ve applied for McGraw Business Journalism Fellowship. In the pitch, I argued that the family courts are operating as a business, and perhaps can be considered a “repugnant market.” The pitch can be found at this post: “The Cost of Custody When Your Pain is Profitable” part 1 and part 2. Ultimately, I was not selected; so that means we try again next year. Never quit.

• I also applied for reporting support with the Fund for Investigative Journalism— and to my surprise and elation, was selected! I’ve not accepted the funds, because I’ve been in consultation with more senior investigative editors who are helping me refine the pitch, which I believe will surely elevate its chances of being picked up by the most impactful outlet possible. I’m so grateful for this support, and want to make a difference. It’s a long slog, nothing is quick, but we keep moving forward.

Listening to the Arizona Ad Hoc Committee on Family Court Orders has been encouraging. Of course the stories are all painful. For the parents to share their stories, still, is helping to reduce stigma and raise awareness. I’m hopeful for what will come out of the process.

I was curious how unique this kind of committee is, so I checked in with Michael Volpe. He runs a Substack, “Michael Volpe Investigates” which also looks into family court issues. I’ve had a couple conversations with Volpe, and he’s been consistently helpful, generous with his time and knowledge of the family court. Volpe has been looking at the system for more years than I, so I’ve been grateful for his willingness to share insights and assessments of developments.

He also shared some insights in a recent posting. In summary, here are some reasons that the Arizona Ad Hoc Committee on Family Court Orders is unique, and can give us cause for hope:

• Sustained attention: It’s not the first effort of its kind (Connecticut held a smaller version in 2013), but Arizona’s model—multiple hearings over multiple months—ensures continued public focus.

• Social reach: In 2013, we weren’t as connected by tech. Today, parents’ testimony is shared widely on social media, extending its impact and normalizing discussion of family court harm.

• Less stigma: Volpe notes there’s more public awareness of family court dysfunction now—and that parents are less afraid to speak out. (Still, it takes extraordinary courage to publicly share your most painful moments. If you’ve spoken up, I applaud you!)

In listening to the interview between Volpe, Richard Luthmann and Senator Mark Finchem, I’m adding these two elements for why the Ad Hoc committee can give us cause for optimism.

• Intent to act: Finchem, a co-chair of the committee, has said they’re not just collecting stories—they’re preparing a legislative package in response to what they’re hearing. (If you’ve spoken to Finchem or Keshel about your custody case, I’d love to hear about it— just reply to this post or email me.)

• Accountability ahead?: Finchem also mentioned that a PAC may be forming to oppose retention of five Arizona family court judges with the worst reputations. That kind of political pressure could mark a major shift in how judges are held accountable. Or perhaps, that they are even held accountable (!).

So: we keep going. We use our voices. We support those brave enough to use theirs. And we look for every lever— journalism, legislation, public pressure—to shift the system toward something just.

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If you’ve been impacted by Arizona’s family court system—or have participated in a similar hearing in another state—I’d love to hear from you. You can reply directly to this post or email me privately.

What changes do you most want to see?