Fourth Judicial District Court Clinic - Cocke, Jefferson, and
Sevier Counties
Systemically, perhaps the greatest burden facing the court is how to best counter psychological,
socioeconomic, relational, and physical well-being effects that research indicates are present in divorced individuals and their children. 
Approximately 60% of separating and divorcing families within the Fourth Judicial district include minor children. Thankfully, most of these disrupted families will resolve issues of custody and visitation once initial post-separation discord diminishes. However, an estimated 5% to 10% of these families will experience significant high conflict—e.g., persistent anger, narrow and literal interpretation of court orders, non-compliance, placing of loyalty demands on children, attempts and/or threats to alienate or abduct children, frequent relitigation, and allegations of neglect—that influences their capacity to effectively parent and/or co-parent, requiring further intervention by the
judicial system. Furthermore, nearly half of divorced parents admit on-going conflict with an ex-partner and an estimated 20% will remain pathologically bitter for many years.
EFFECTS OF PARENTAL HIGH
CONFLICT ON CHILDREN
Parents in conflict tend to exacerbate the stress and anxiety experienced by their children through setting inadequate examples, inconsistent discipline, perpetuating negative emotions with the other parent, and decreasing attention, frequency, and quality of time with their children.
Children of high conflict divorcing/separating parents tend to experience difficulty forming healthy interpersonal bonds, finishing high school, managing emotions such as anger, and maintaining a loving relationship with their peers as well as their parents; additionally,
children of divorce are overrepresented in mental health treatment setting.
Research has shown that a child’s level of adjustment to a divorce or separation depends on the level of conflict between the parents. Children who adjust well to the dissolution of the inter-parental relationship are typically those who maintain active and role-specific relationships with both parents (ideally, in a joint custody arrangement), feel they have a voice in the matter, experience limited changes in routine and rules, and are least exposed to or influenced by conflict within the family.
In effect, the capacity for the parents to grieve and recover, encourage and respect one another's unique relationship with the child(ren), cooperate as co-parents, and decrease conflict directly impacts the well-being of the child(ren).
The Fourth Judicial District Court Clinic intends to be a support system to Judges who struggle to make decisions when faced with high conflict divorcing or re-litigating families. In their effort to make a decision that is in the “best interest of the children”, the court system sometimes requires more information about the families. Upon court referral, the Court Clinic uses an interdisciplinary team of mental health and family studies professionals to interview and assess families . This is to investigate and clarify those issues that are getting in the way of effective co-parenting.
Typically, Judges refer litigants to the Court Clinic, but attorneys are invited to make referrals as well. If you think your client(s) might benefit from an interview with the Court Clinic staff, please discuss this support option with your clients and, upon their agreement, contact the Court Clinic for an “order” from the Judge. A “generic” order has been developed and approved by the judges and can be obtained at your request by e-mailing or phoning the Clinic Coordinator. A copy of the order will be forwarded for you to prepare and present to the judge for a signature. Completed orders can then be faxed or mailed to the Court Clinic Coordinator. Other referrals range from the Department of Children’s Services or parents simply seeking support with parenting skills, mediations, or divorce.
PARENTING SEMINARS
The Court Clinic personnel have developed a questionnaire that measures couples’ potential level of conflict as they progress through divorce and/or re-litigation. The University of Tennessee Extension Agency conducts these seminars at each of their county offices within the Fourth Judicial District. The Court Clinic is receiving completed questionnaires from the participants as they register for the seminar. Information about these data will be included in forthcoming newsletters.
- Our location is Upstairs in the Tanner Cultural Center, 115 Mulberry Street Newport, TN (between CVS and the Community Center), parenting classes are the first and third Wednesdays of every month at 6:00 p.m., the Classes will be taught by Dr. Jamie Branam Kridler Listed Rule 31 Family Mediator.
