Custody 4 Cash Calls for Cameras in Courtrooms

An Open Letter to Our State Senators and Representatives

Starting in January, and throughout the upcoming election cycle, the Independent Gazette will be conducting an in-depth analysis of the family court system, not only locally here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, but throughout the balance of the state, and even across the nation as a whole.

Ten years ago, we as an organization brought to the attention of our elected officials, the media, law enforcement, and court officials, injustices that were taking place in the courts, and for the most part it fell on deaf ears. We addressed the report by the AOPC (Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts), gag orders, shredded documents, missing documents, and horrific stories brought to us by individuals throughout our region of abuses they accused the courts of inflicting on families and individuals. The retribution was, and still is, real. The overcharging for services by court officers was, and still is real.

Current lawsuits filed locally against court officials (with more coming) will only highlight the abuses. Tragically, what was happening ten years ago is still happening today, at times with the same court officials, and, in our opinion, will continue to take place in another ten years, if serious court reform and court transparency are not implemented.

With precedent right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania with the “Kids for Cash” scandal, and, subsequently, with the “Custody for Cash” scandal we’ve sought to document, we cannot accept a court system that proclaims it protects children while insisting to operate in darkness.

Transparency protects everyone, citizens and courts alike, and that is our impetus for advocating for cameras in every courtroom, and for seeking support from elected officials to hold open hearings addressing concerns everyday citizens harbor about what they have witnessed in Pennsylvania courts.
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Court reform is a top concern of Pennsylvania voters, and it is imperative, come the primaries and then general election in November, that they, the voting public, are informed about where you stand on court reform, and about solutions you may offer when it comes to transparency in our courtrooms.

We will print your reply in full, unedited on our website, at independentgazette.org, and will update our readers here in Northeast Pennsylvania, and throughout Pennsylvania in our printed edition every 10 days beginning February 10th, 2024.

Sincerely,
Independent Gazette