'Family Court practices unfair to the accused (read: male)'

Letter here. Excerpt:

'I personally believe that the Family Court system consistently and institutionally violates the Constitution’s Fifth and Fourteenth amendments, regarding due process and equal treatment under the law.

My reasoning: When petitioners come to Family Court and file for a protection from abuse order, but cannot afford their own legal representation, they are immediately referred to the Delaware Legal Aid Society where they can receive a highly skilled and impassioned attorney. The petitioner will also be granted one and sometimes two court advocates.

The respondent, whom I will refer to as the accused (remember innocent until proven guilty), has no such recourse. In fact if a respondent contacts the Delaware Legal Aid Society, he will be told point-blank that the organization only represents the petitioner.

So when the day of the hearing arrives, the petitioner’s legal machine is ready to conquer.

The respondent’s fate is all but certain. Not knowing how to effectively navigate through the legal arena, he is easy prey.'