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Here is a copy of the letter sent to the Daily Telegram Editor

Rachel Allen
Today at 2:32pm
I have sent the following letter to the editor of your newspaper via email and would like to also post it here: Letter to the Editor of the Daily Telegram, Adrian, MI, I am writing to share my dismay and disgust at the recent actions and statements made by one of your local judges, the Honorable Margaret Noe. It is my understanding that she is not familiar with the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act. The link to the text of the federal law (in PDF form directly from the U.S. Department of Justice website) can be found here: http://www.justice.gov/crt/spec_topics/military/scratext.pdf. If you refer to §512(a), you will find this law is applicable to each of the States, including the political subdivisions thereof. In §522, you will see that the law specifically includes child custody proceedings. In addition, the law MANDATES that Judge Noe “shall, upon application by the servicemember, stay the action for a period of not less than 90 days” if the conditions in paragraph (2) or the section are met (which have been met, as required). Perhaps she was not aware that the law now includes the language “including any child custody proceeding”, since this language was added by P.L. 110-181, and was made effective on January 28, 2008. The fact that she would blatantly violate Federal law is appalling. Even worse, she would do so in a manner that would violate the rights of a Servicemember and stripping a young child from the only home she has truly ever known, after a judge granted full custody to the father four years ago. Petty Officer Hindes is not shirking his responsibility as a parent due to his military service. Hundreds of thousands of brave men and women are at this very moment enduring the great challenge of being separated from their families and loved ones, while serving our great country and protecting the very freedoms and system this judge vowed to uphold. I encourage the citizens of your community to educate themselves on the law and stand up against this outragous violation. Military members cannot be punished for following orders. And as a submariner, Petty Officer Hindes is not so easily expendible that he can just leave his appointed place of duty. Judge Noe’s actions are abhorant to those of us who have proudly served in the military. She is an embarassment to your community. Please let her know that her position is required to uphold the law, not violate it. Thank you for your time and consideration. Very Respectfully, Rachel B. Allen Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Military Paralegal