The lobbying groups

The lobbying groups

The members of these [what appears to be three] lobbying groups overlap significantly with each other and various Supreme Court committees. The MDIC appears to be at the heart of the consortium. In this way, it appears that the MDIC influences both legislation (through lobbying) and court rule making (through committees). Click here for a table. Note that the table does not contain all the names of the principal lobbyers, such as Bob LaCrosse, who do not appear as members of any rule-making committees.

2008 MDIC Membership [partial] list

Metropolitan Denver Interdisciplinary Committee Membership Directory and Resource Guide.

2001 IRS Form 990 for Denver Metropolitan Interdisciplinary Committee (prepared by Beth Henson)

1996 MDIC Application for Exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

1990 MDIC Articles of Incorporation

Examples of flyers for junkets for judges sponsored by Colorado court-appointed domestic relations lobbying groups Photographs of one such event are here (slower-loading mirror here). To learn more about the problem of seminars or "junkets for judges" from H.A.L.T., click here. A year-2000 study by the Community Rights Counsel (C.R.C.) regarding the issue of junkets for judges is located here and an entire Web site dedicated to the subject of junkets for judges is here.

link to excerpts of writings of Bill J. Fyfe (de facto spokesperson for Colorado court-appointed domestic relations "experts"), arguing for expanded totalitarian role and sanction powers for parenting coordinators.

Lobbying group Colorado State Interdisciplinary Committee (COIC) Board of Governors, consisting of Colorado court-appointed domestic relations "experts" and the judges who appoint them

Sept. 1, 2007 email from knowYourCOURTS.com contributor, who has asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution:

I've attended these sessions as a parent and purchased the taped "classes". The primary topic discussed is how to collect their fees, nothing about Best Interests of a Child.

Excerpts from Family Law Section regarding the lobbying efforts of the Metropolitan Denver Interdisciplinary Committee (MDIC):

meeting minutes, February 17, 2005 Family Law Luncheon: "Beth Henson reported that she and other members of the Legislative Committee had met with Representative Jahn to provide her with feedback from the Family Law Section. Representative Jahn indicated she had received some negative feedback from constituents and asked for assistance from the Family Law Section in addressing those concerns. The main concern is the accountability of parent coordinators and special advocates. Beth indicated that the Legislative Committee agreed to give her a list of responses to the concerns raised by her constituents. Beth reported that the bill is up for a hearing on Thursday, February 24, 2005."
meeting minutes, February 13, 2004 Family Law Section Executive Council: "Beth Henson mentioned that special advocates, child legal representatives, and mental health professionals are being sued for working in special advocate cases. She mentioned more than a few people who have been subjected to lawsuits. The MDIC and others are working on legislation and other ideas to try to relieve this situation. It was suggested that an immunity statute would help. The Executive Council advised Beth that, if we could help in some way, we would be glad to lend support."

last updated: 01/14/2009