IN RE LEE: How THE PARENTAL RIGHT TO SELFDETERMINATION CAME TO TRUMP JUDICIAL AUTHORITY HONORABLE LETA S. PARKSt I.
IN TRODUCTION .............................................................................. 483
II. INR E LEE ............................................... 484 A. FactualBackground................................................................ 484 B. The Sex Offender Issue............................................................ 486 III. THE BEST INTEREST STANDARD AND RIGHTS TO D ETERM INATION ............................................................................ 487
IV. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND THE FAMILY COURTS. 490 V. ETHICAL DUTIES OF MEDIATORS IN FAMILY LAW CASES ............. 495
A. B. C. D. E. F.
The Necessity of Neutrality ..................................................... Competency of the Mediator................................................... Self-D etermination.................................................................. Litigation: Effects and Costs................................................... Confidentiality ........................................................................ The MediatorShall Not Provide Legal Advice .......................
496 498 499 499 500 500
V I. C ON CLU SION .................................................................................. 501
I.
INTRODUCTION
The evolution of the modem family and the continual adaptation of the laws governing families have substantively and procedurally challenged the role and authority of the judiciary over the years. From the common law days of judges exercising ultimate control over the legal relationship of a nuclear family, our society has morphed into a system where judicial authority is gradually diminishing. With regards to increasing parental autonomy, the legal system is still at a developing stage. In re Lee represents a significant leap in the evolutionary process by severely
t The author of this article was the mediator in In re Lee. At the time of the mediation, she had been a board certified family law specialist for twenty years and had eighteen years of experience as a family court associate judge. The author relies on these personal experiences throughout this article.