Stop the Stigma Campaign

Action by the Resolutions Committee of
the American Judges Association

The following letter was received by AASP on August 14, 2000, from the chairperson of the AJA Resolutions Committee.

August 10, 2000

Thomas F. Coleman, Executive Director
American Association for Single People
P.O. Box 65756
Los Angeles, CA 90065

Dear Mr. Coleman:

I circulated your proposed AJA Resolution on non-marital children to our Resolution Committee for approval.

To my disappointment, the Committee consensus is that the subject of the proposed resolution is not a judicial function, but a legislative function.

I have taken the liberty of sending the papers to New York State Assemblyman David Sidikman and I have asked him to look into the possibility of having him proposed legislation to change all New York State legislation referring to "illegitimate children" to "non-marital children" or "children born to unmarried parents."  I did the same to Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) as to Federal legislation.

Once the legislature changes the terminology, judges most assuredly would follow suit.

Very truly yours,

Judge Ira J. Raab
President of the Board of Judges
District Court, Nassau County

Back to Stigma
Campaign Main Page