Tug of War: A Judge’s Verdict on Separation, Custody Battles, and the Bitter Realities of Family Court
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Tug of War is the first book of its kind. Written by a sitting family court judge in layman’s language, it demystifies complex family law concepts and procedures, clearly explains how family court works, and gives parents essential alternatives to resolve their own custody battles and keep their kids out of the often damaging court system.
Breakup rates in North America are skyrocketing. Recent statistics say 45% of marriages end in divorce, and at the centre are countless children, thrust by their families into a complex and seemingly impermeable family court system. Tug of War explains the role of lawyers and judges in the family justice system, and examines the parents’ own responsibilities to ensure that post-separation conflicts are resolved with minimal damage to the children stuck in the middle of parental disputes.
Justice Harvey Brownstone explores themes that apply to all families and parents in conflict. He draws on fourteen years sitting on the family court bench to provide clear case examples with inclusive and accessible language. Tug of War describes alternatives to litigation and exposes the myth that parents can represent themselves without a lawyer in family court. Justice Brownstone discloses the inner struggles of parents, judges and lawyers in the maelstrom of marital conflict.
This book is a must-read for couples involved in or contemplating separation, family law judges, lawyers, mediators, parenting coaches, psychologists, family counselors, social workers, students and professors of family law at law schools. It is endorsed by judges currently sitting in Ontario and New York State.
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Mr. Justice Harvey Brownstone currently presides at the North Toronto Family Court. He was appointed a provincial judge in 1995, after serving as Director of the Support and Custody Enforcement Program of the Ministry of the Attorney General (now the Family Responsibility Office). He received his LL.B. from Queen’s University in 1980, and after working as a full-time Legal Aid duty counsel in the criminal courts, he joined the Legal Aid research facility, focusing primarily on Family Law.
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Published: March 2009
ISBN: 9781550228700
Dimensions: 6 x 9 in.
Pages: 200
Reviews
"[A] candid account of the soul-destroying, financial debacle that usually results when warring couples take their differences to court. It explains the shortcomings of the family-court system, strongly advocates on behalf of the children of divorce and offers down-to-earth tips."— Globe & Mail
"Why would lawyers, particularly family law lawyers want to plunk down$19.95 to read this book? For starters, Justice Brownstone is donating all his proceeds from the book to children's charities. Moreover, it provides a rare glimpse of what a sitting judge thinks about the good, the bad and the ugly realities of the family law court system, family law lawyers and family law litigants. Furthermore, reading the book will help family law lawyers provide better guidance to clients, especially the final chapter that is full of heartfelt and wise advice for resolving parental disputes post-divorce."— Lawyers Weekly
"Judges too need to be more than just courtroom adjudicators but public educators as well, said Brownstone, who has done more than just write the book. He's also participated in a media campaign to promote it, appearing twice so far - on TVO's The Agenda with Steve Paiken, doing three question-and-answer sessions with The Globe and Mail (which also ran an editorial on the book stating the 'Justice Brownstone gets it right') and fielding calls on about 80 radio phone-in shows. CBC Television's The National did a feature on him and the book, and he's been a guest on breakfast TV programs, including CTV's Canada AM."— Lawyers Weekly
"A must-read for couples involved in or contemplating separation, family law judges, lawyers, mediators, parenting coaches, psychologists, family counselors, social workers, students and professors of family law at law schools."— TheSmartDivorce.com
"Every lawyer should provide clients with a copy of Tug of War and encourage them to read it before proceeding with their case."— The Canadian Bar Association