This is more closely aligned with academic writing. I found this book to be well sourced and informative. I will use this book as I further my writing and education on Family Court. I do recommend this book, though I do think for the average reader it may be too academic leaning.

Note: I received a free copy, but chose to review it.

The evils of Family Court are not as well known as its criminal counterpart, but they are far reaching in American life and particularly harmful to women of color in this country. Spinak traces the racist roots of family court--essentially white people with a savior complex wanting to "save" the children of immigrants-and analyzes how that historical root manifests itself today. Family Court affords neither children nor parents the fundamental due process and constitutional protections that criminal court purports to, but has almost equivalent power to destroy lives and families. The book is detailed with incisive analysis and I highly recommend.

This was such an important, incredibly relevant read! There are so many moving pieces when it comes to couples separating, warring over custody, support etc…what gets lost in the shuffle is the way the very process of litigating these matters in the courtroom can be harmful to children. They are navigating a system that is overburdened and can not really be fixated on what’s developmentally appropriate for children or how the effects of the decisions being dissected there are going to leave an enduring legacy in these young minds for long after. It goes without saying that these harms are only amplified when the children are from communities of color, who have always suffered disproportionately in the hands of the law, at a systemic and institutional level (similar effects for lower income families). The author does a phenomenal job of outlining these matters and proposing forward looking solutions in a boldly ambitious manner.

A book I’ll recommend to any children’s rights scholars, law students, and family lawyers!