Retiring to make misconduct investigations disappear is a common strategy. Most recently, Donad Trump’s older sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, retired as a federal appellate judge, ending an investigation into whether she violated judicial conduct rules by participating in fraudulent tax schemes with her siblings. Retiring as a Judge, Trump’s Sister Ends Court Inquiry Into Her Role in Tax Dodges
Though it doesn’t get the big media coverage, Family Court lawyers and judges do the same, effectively ending Attorney Registration And Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) or Judicial Inquiry Board (JIB) investigations. Judges simply wait to qualify for their life-long taxpayer-funded government pensions first. How convenient for them.
Meanwhile, their hard working, middle class victims are left financially and emotionally devastated by their exploitation. (Family Court insiders don’t bother stealing assets or children from lower income families because they have no assets to steal.) Many family court corruption victims end up with Legal Abuse Syndrome, a variant of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
It is interesting that three key players from my child custody case in the Rolling Meadows Courthouse, Room 106, Cook County Chicago, all retired around the same time. The Judge, Child Representative (A court-appointed attorney who is supposed to protect the child’s rights), and one of my ex-husband’s attorneys all retired around the same time.
Also interesting is the cyber-stalking and threats trying to intimidate me into taking down this website prior to their retirements. Excerpts from emails sent to me for over a year: “Sadly, cancer just isn’t (in)humane enough and it isn’t gonna work. I’m sure there are many alternatives for your consideration. One old standby that practically everyone is familiar with is hanging. Almost everyone knows how to tie a knot. Rope is easy to find, and much more definite…It should be easy for you to figure this whole suicide thing out…I think drop hanging would be preferable to suspension based hanging due to your prodigious weight, lack of dexterity, and longstanding disinclination towards physical labor. It’s easier!”
“When a ship is sinking, rats jump ship. So most likely, they were afraid of some inquiry by the ARDC, or JIB (and for the JIB, they made sure they were there long enough to collect their government pension.) Most are not afraid of any inquiry because neither the ARDC or JIB really care about bad lawyers/judges. They only care to get rid of those who make the profession look bad – that means either public (or soon to be made public) screwups, or those making the profession look bad by exposing the corruption.” – A Chicago attorney who read my case
“Just hope Natalie Koga finds something else to do, instead of terrorizing mothers and children.” – Another Chicago attorney who read my case
“Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.” From the essay “Other People’s Money” by Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, featured in Harper’s Weekly, December 20, 1913. Other People’s Money, Louis Brandeis
But our beautiful life was stolen from us. An innocent child was forced to finish growing up without his Mother, while I went from the Mom expected to do everything to not allowed to even send a Birthday or Christmas card.
It’s illegal to continue filing custody motions within less than two years of a custody decision. But Judge Levinson and Natalie Koga, Child Rep didn’t care. My ex-husband filed EIGHT petitions for Custody, forcing my son and I into abusive litigation that lasted over six years, with countless harassing motions and delays so I would run out of money for representation. Many hearings were set at the last minute so I would lose income. Custody would no sooner be decided in my favor, when he would charge back into court with ever new and shifting allegations. This made it impossible to earn a living. Verbal and emotional abuse, and physical intimidation by the attorneys became customary.
Judgment in early 2012. But at the last moment she demanded to “stay on free of charge” – her opportunity to churn and charge the case, and advocate for my ex-husband’s twisted campaign. After they finally erased me from my child’s life, suddenly she produced an enormous bill, and continued adding to it! Judge Levinson simply rubber-stamped it at the very last moment. 
Shrinks with sanctions on their licenses were brought late into the case – Koga’s strategy to override the findings of one of the most highly respected custody evaluators in the state, Dr. David Finn’s evaluation recommending custody to me, with findings of Pathological Parental Alienation, Domestic Violence and family exploitation against my ex-husband.
When I could no longer afford an attorney, I stood alone, mute, not allowed to present evidence, while Koga and opposing counsel #6 Meg Jackson, stood together, insulting me, lying, all the while laughing, too many times to count. This forced me to file my evidence into the court record through Affidavits. It’s all in there, but wasn’t allowed to be presented in court. They thought depriving a child of his Mother while demeaning her in public was amusing. Judge Alfred Levinson joined in taking twisted pleasure in the cruel charade.
vicious email sent LESS THAN ONE DAY after my elderly, ill father passed away at our family farm – 150 MILES AWAY FROM JUDGE LEVINSON’S ROLLING MEADOWS, IL COURTROOM – TRYING TO BULLY ME INTO NOT ATTENDING MY FATHER’S FUNERAL! Since when do divorce lawyers have any business trying to decide who goes to private family funeral?
Three key players all retired around the same time. The Judge, Child Representative (An attorney appointed by the court to protect the rights of the child), and one of my ex-husband’s attorneys all suddenly left the field. “When a ship is sinking, rats jump ship. So most likely, they were afraid of some inquiry by the ARDC (Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, or JIB (Judicial Inquiry Board) (and for the JIB, they made sure they were there long enough to collect their government pension.) Most are not afraid of any inquiry because neither the ARDC or JIB really care about bad lawyers/judges. They only care to get rid of those who make the profession look bad – that means either public (or soon to be made public) screwups, or those making the profession look bad by exposing the corruption.” – A Chicago Attorney familiar with my case
As Mother’s Day weekend commences, many are excitedly gearing up for the holiday; cards, flowers and gifts being bought, precious gifts made at school secreted away, brunch reservations made, all is being made ready for the special day. Some of us are celebrating, while others of us are grieving. Those of us left to celebrate Mother’s Day in quiet solitude have time on our hands to reflect, and to ask probing questions.
“In 1979, a young attorney named Michael H. Minton successfully argued that a housewife was worth more than $40,000 a year. The public snorted and the press made fun, but the ramifications proved enormous. When the dust finally settled, the 33-year-old Chicago lawyer had catapulted matrimonial law into an entirely new arena.” 
our materialistic, superficial, money-driven society. How many of us have heard a stay-at-home Mom say out loud “I’m just a Mom”. We’ve all been sold this notion that being a Mom is not for “smart women, educated or high-value women.”
and put on IV fluids, along with several other complications, the thought of assigning a dollar value to this physical sacrificing is shocking at best. But, here is a handy chart from one agency, West Coast Surrogacy. A summary of costs: Base Pay (Surrogacy and expenses) First-time $50,000; Experienced $60,000; Twins: ad $5,000; Triplets add $10,000; C-Section, add $3,000; compensation for lost wages-actual cost; additional medical problems-$10,000. 
Many of us have also been confronted with the disturbing reality that women who can afford an attorney such as Michael Milton will come out of their divorce at least somewhat protected, without becoming impoverished, raked through the system, and children stolen. Sadly, we learned the old adage still holds true: you get the justice you can afford.
So, on this Mother’s Day, to the Mothers out there falling asleep with your newborn on your chest with the deepest joy, I acknowledge you. To the Mother watching her child walk for the first time, I acknowledge you. To the Mothers out there with the flu while caring for the family, I acknowledge you. To the Mothers out there who think they’ll never get it right, I acknowledge you. To the Mothers out there working inside and outside the home, I acknowledge you. To the Mothers out there caring for children and aging parents at the same time, I acknowledge you. To the Mothers out there choosing to work inside the home, I acknowledge you. To the Mothers out there who have lost their children to death, I acknowledge you. To the Mothers out there who have lost their children to Domestic Violence by Proxy and Court Corruption, I acknowledge you. To all Mothers out there, I acknowledge you.
To the children out there celebrating with your Mother this Mother’s Day, I acknowledge you. To the children who have lost their Mothers to death, I acknowledge you. To the children living long distances from their Mothers, I acknowledge you. To the children out there separated from Mom at the border, I acknowledge you. To the children out there missing a Mom erased by family court, I acknowedge you. To the children out there wishing their Mother could have been better, I acknowledge you. To the children out there just beginning to appreciate your own Mother after having children of your own, I acknowledge you. To the children out there making their joyful school gift, I acknowledge you. To all children out there, I acknowledge you.
“As children, we are sponges. We take on the beliefs and values of those we look up to, depend on, love or, sadly, even fear. Some of these beliefs may be serving us well; others are doing the exact opposite. Taking the time to reflect on what is important to us, what resonates, what is truly our belief is a step we must all take. Without doing this, we are carrying around baggage that is not our own: baggage that keeps us from finding our authentic self. By exposing ourselves to new ideas and different ways of being, we can discover what resonates within us.” – Diane Mottle, MSW
