Courtfighter Battles Injustice in Local Courts As Forwarded From University City Review by By Kaley Iacovetta Special to the UC Review

Courtfighter Battles Injustice in Local Courts As Forwarded From University City Review by By Kaley Iacovetta Special to the UC Review

Van Stone

In 2004, community activist Van Stone suffered the corrupt sting of judicial injustice. His ex-wife acquired, what he says, was an unwarranted Protection From Abuse Order against Stone, stripping the father of his rights to see his children. Stone was charged with violating this court order and sentenced to serve jail time at the George Hill Correctional Facility.

Stone experienced the court-induced trauma that many African American fathers have suffered. He told us that he has reason to believe that the judge acted unfairly, failing to objectively consider both sides of the case. Furthermore, he maintains, that the judge’s previous rulings seem to follow a pattern of what he desribes as "intentional discriminatory action against African American males."

However, Stone has not let the iron fist of the law have the last word. His harrowing experience led him to establish Courtfighter, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting against injustice in the local court system. "The fact that I was wrongfully incarcerated, the fact that my children were wrongfully taken from me, and the fact that it was a personal attack from a judge empowered to do such things began the process of developing Courtfighter," says Stone.

Shortly after Stone was released from jail, he contacted friend and current state representative candidate Warren Bloom Sr. for help. Bloom, who says he has also suffered judicial mistreatment, assisted Stone with his case, and the two men decided it would be beneficial to start a support group for others with similar cases.

Courtfighter was officially established in 2009 as an additional service to Stone’s existing community organization, Van Stone Productions Foundation (VSPF). Stone created VSPF in 1980 as a means to serve his community through skills-development programs. CF is the program’s arm of social justice, aiming to ensure that individuals are not denied their rights in court.

For Stone, the need for an organization like CF was crucial. When attempting to appeal his own case, he was directed to the Judicial Conduct Board. "The board is made up of attorneys and individuals connected to judges," Stone explains. "When you present a problem with proof of unfair conduct, they often turn a blind eye. So you’re left with no help at all." Thus, CF seeks to fill this void. "The program is unique," says Stone. "It’s the only one that exists in the state of Pennsylvania that is helping to deal with fighting for our civil liberties."

The organization, based at 3901 Market Street, is run by a group of nearly 100 volunteers. Some are lawyers, but most are individuals who, like Stone, have been mistreated by judges and seek to aid others in overcoming such injustices. When a person submits their case to CF, the group will refer the individual to a lawyer who specializes in their specific issue. CF also assists by alerting the media and by writing press releases and articles concerning the case to expose the injustice to the public. CF volunteers may also sit in court with the individual and act as a "support piece." CF’s services are free of charge, but donations are welcomed and encouraged.

There are some stipulations on what types of cases CF will take. The group only deals with local courts, and specifically those in Philadelphia and Delaware County. Most of their cases deal with family court issues of custody or property. Stone also advises, "It must be an unfair situation, where you could show that clearly something has happened with a judge and where due process was not respected. We don’t deal with personal disputes." Currently, CF has a 90 percent success rate. Stone himself was able to facilitate the decision reversal in his own case. Stone attributes this success to CF’s exposure of discriminating judges. "The reason we are so successful in dealing with cases is because the unfairness usually comes from a judge who could be a bigot or a racist or outright hypocritical. As a Courtfighter, you basically become a freedom fighter, fighting against bigotry, racism, and hypocrisy in courts."

The CF’s mission is crucial because, according to Stone, families are the targets of corrupt local judges. "It’s the ordinary family that gets destroyed, the working class or middle class…their [the judges’] targets are those who cannot defend themselves." Warren Bloom agrees, commenting, "There are thousands of parents who are suffering and need the justice they deserve, to have the right to visitation, to see their children, and to have full or partial custody. We want to be very proactive in preventing the separation and division of families." By fighting against the injustice in local courts, CF is helping families, specifically the children, get the support they deserve. "The early years shape the moral fabric of any individual," says Bloom. "If a child has a disturbing first five years [due to court-related family injustice] they may grow up to be an unhealthy member of our society." Thus, CF is dedicated not only to achieving justice, but also to protecting the families and children of the community from court-induced trauma.

It is the goal of Stone and other Courtfighters to alert and attract the attention of both the public and government officials. "We have a goal to seek out the existing authorities who can change the guidelines in the courts, so we can take away the power that these judges have." However, this mission is a challenge because, according to Stone, it is difficult to persuade government representatives that they indeed have the authority and ability to make changes. "They don’t believe they can stop the injustice, perhaps out of lack of education or according to what they know at face value. We as the Courtfighters have to convince them that they do have the power."

For the future, CF aims to serve as a catalyst for serious change. "We are hoping very soon that with the Courtfighter effort, and with the work of Warren Bloom, that we will begin a serious investigation of the unfairness occurring in local courts and that the whistle will be blown on this matter," says Stone.

If you have experienced unfairness or mistreatment in the local courtroom and would like support, or if you want to volunteer to make a difference, visit www.courtfighter.com or contact Van Stone at 610-931-8810.