The Child's Attorney and the Alienated Child: Approaches to Resolving the Ethical Dilemma of Diminished Capacity

Increasingly lawyers for children follow a model of “client centered” (as opposed to “best interests”) representation in child custody disputes in which the child client defines the objectives of the representation. The client‐centered model, while appropriate in most cases to give voice to the child's preferences in a process that deeply impacts him or her, can create an ethical dilemma for the child's lawyer in cases where a child is truly alienated from the other parent by the actions of the alienating parent. Alienated children strongly and unreasonably express a preference for objectives of representation that might further damage the alienated parent's relationship with the child. The alienated child's objectives may be the result of a campaign of denigration and “brainwashing” by the alienating parent. This Note suggests that when a child is truly alienated from a parent, as diagnosed by a mental health expert, the child may have “diminished capacity” and therefore, the client‐directed model of representation is not adequate. This Note proposes that the Child's Attorney must determine whether the child is of diminished capacity under the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and, if so, must treat the client accordingly under Rule 1.14. Specifically, the attorney may, if all other remedial measures are inadequate, override the child's wishes and advocate a position that the child would take, but for the brainwashing of the child used to alienate him or her from a parent.     

Potential forensic application of closely linked autosomal STR haplotype in complex kinship testing

It has been noticed that the most commonly used commercial STR kits and mtDNA may not be able to solve some special kinship cases, such as alleged aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or half-siblings. Due to its unique hereditary pattern, the haplotype of genetic markers could be a solution of these questioned family relationships. In this study, we investigated the genetic features of an autosomal STR cluster by employing confirmed family samples. To evaluate the forensic practical value of autosomal STR haplotype, 5 closely linked STR loci, D1S2127-D1S2138-D1S3460-D1S1643-D1S518, which were arranged in about 2 cM region (from 186.29 cM to 188.02 cM; 1 cM represents 1% average recombination between two loci) on chromosome one, were selected to compose haplotype. Genotyping of 60 samples from 8 trios (father–mother–children), 8 duos (father or mother–children), and 4 three-generation pedigrees were performed using PAGE. Haplotypes were identified in the child by determining alleles for all 5 loci transmitted from each parent. Total 73 haplotypes were detected in all samples and 34 haplotypes were observed to be passed down as a whole and was corresponding with the inherited characteristics of haplotype. In all family members, 34 unrelated individuals contributed 65 haplotypes, of which 62 haplotypes appeared only once and the rest 3 haplotypes appeared twice. No recombination was observed in 4 three-generation pedigrees. In conclusion, the haplotype consisting of 5 closely linked autosomal STRs could pass down steadily as a whole. The family specificity of most haplotypes may provide a unique advantage in forensic complex kinship testing.     

Steven Chaffee and the Future of Political Communication Research

This article discusses four basic characteristics of Steven Chaffee's research: going beyond the "common research wisdom," careful explication of concepts, avoiding unsubstantiated charges against the media, and investigation of the social aspects of communication. The evolution of political socialization research is used as an example of how these characteristics have strengthened Chaffee's contribution to that area and to the larger field of political communication. It is argued that the future of this field would benefit from emulation of these characteristics. Continuing problems of political communication research are noted, and various emerging problems are discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Familias con Voz</Emphasis>: Community Survey Results from an Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Prevention Project with Migrant Workers

The Migrant Clinicians Network’s Familias con Voz (Families with a Voice) project aims to train migrant men and women to become intimate partner violence (IPV) peer educators in their communities. In preparation for implementing educational activities, a community survey was conducted with 298 participants in three Texas border counties. Verbal abuse, such as name calling, was the most frequent type of violence reported. Men perceived anger as a cause of partner violence significantly more than women. Only 22% of respondents reported knowing of a shelter they could turn to for help. Surprisingly, a majority of participants cited “seeking help from the police” when asked about ways to decrease partner violence. Survey results offer insight into developing effective intervention programs by capturing the intended audiences’ beliefs and attitudes. Additionally, survey results reveal possible strategies for how to tackle IPV in U.S.-Mexico border migrant farmworker communities.