Michael Phillips

Where to Report Family Court Injustice: A Citizen’s Guide to Submitting Tips and Complaints

By Michael Phillips

If you’ve experienced injustice in family court—whether it’s the denial of your constitutional rights, manipulation of evidence, fraud by court-appointed professionals, or a blatant abuse of judicial discretion—you’re not alone. Across the country, parents, especially those without legal counsel, are being stripped of their rights, misrepresented, silenced, and even retaliated against for simply trying to stay in their children’s lives.

But here’s what most people don’t know:

You can report it.

You should report it.

And there are real agencies that must document those reports—even if they don’t act immediately.

Why You Should Report Family Court Misconduct

Family court is supposed to be about the best interest of the child, but too often, it becomes a theater of unchecked power. Judges, attorneys, guardians ad litem (GALs), custody evaluators, and child support enforcement agents operate under a veil of immunity and administrative discretion. Yet behind that veil, many parents have witnessed:

  • Rights violations (denial of due process, protected speech, religious freedom)
  • Judicial bias or improper conduct
  • Retaliation for filing motions or speaking out
  • Misuse of protective orders to control, alienate, or punish
  • Financial fraud in court-ordered services or state-funded programs
  • Collusion among attorneys, evaluators, and judges

Most of these go unreported—because no one tells you where to report them. Until now.

Who to Contact and Where to File Reports

Below is a step-by-step guide to the major agencies where you can report misconduct, rights violations, or suspected criminal behavior that occurred in or around your family court case.

1. U.S. DOJ Civil Rights Division

If your constitutional rights were violated—such as being denied access to your child without due process, being punished for protected speech, or discriminated against based on disability, gender, or religion—you can file a complaint with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

Submit online at: https://civilrights.justice.gov

Tip: Focus on civil rights violations, not the custody dispute itself. Examples include retaliation for filing ADA requests, denial of parental access without a hearing, or gender-based judicial bias.

2. FBI Public Corruption and Civil Rights Violations

If you suspect fraud, bribery, collusion, or systemic abuse involving judges, attorneys, or government actors, you can submit a tip to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The FBI investigates:

  • Public corruption by judges or government officials
  • Conspiracies to deprive someone of civil rights (18 U.S.C. § 241)
  • Deprivation of rights under color of law (18 U.S.C. § 242)
  • Human trafficking or coercion tied to court systems

Submit a tip at: https://tips.fbi.gov
Or call your local field office: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices

Pro Tip: Be specific. List names, actions, dates, and any available documents. Alleging “judicial misconduct” isn’t enough—you must describe unlawful or unethical behavior that potentially violates federal law.

3. Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

If a federal agency is involved—like the Social Security Administration, Department of Health & Human Services, or even Title IV-D child support enforcement—you can report fraud, abuse, or mismanagement to the Office of the Inspector General for that agency.

Example: If a state is misusing federal child support enforcement funds, you can file a report with the OIG at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Start here: https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/

4. State Judicial Conduct Commission

Every state has a Judicial Conduct Commission or similar body that investigates ethical misconduct by judges. While they won’t reverse rulings, they can discipline or remove a judge for things like:

  • Failing to follow the law
  • Showing clear bias or favoritism
  • Acting outside judicial authority
  • Denying constitutional rights
  • Using their position for personal gain

Find your state’s commission via this directory: https://www.ncsc.org/cjc

Important: Include court transcripts, rulings, and any pattern of bias or rights violations. Use objective language, but don’t hold back the truth.

What to Include in a Report or Tip

Your submission is more likely to be read—and taken seriously—if you:

  • Keep it under one page for the summary
  • Attach documents only if they are relevant and clear
  • Stick to verifiable facts and chronology
  • Name specific individuals and their roles
  • Reference applicable laws or violations (if known)

Here’s a sample starter sentence:
“I am reporting a pattern of misconduct and rights violations by [Judge Name] in [Court], including the denial of parenting rights without due process, suppression of evidence, and collusion with court-appointed evaluators who financially benefited from false reports.”

What These Agencies Will Not Do

Let’s be clear:
These agencies do not exist to reverse your custody ruling. They won’t represent you in court. And they won’t act quickly.

But what they can do is:

  • Investigate patterns of abuse
  • Refer criminal matters to prosecutors
  • Compile data for larger probes
  • Hold government actors accountable

And that’s why your report matters. Because if we don’t speak up, the system never changes.

You’re Not Alone—You’re Just Early

The family court system thrives in secrecy. Reporting corruption and civil rights violations isn’t just for your case—it’s for the thousands of others going through the same thing in silence.

One voice becomes many. And many voices bring change.

Know something? Say something.

Submit to the FBI: https://tips.fbi.gov
Report to DOJ Civil Rights: https://civilrights.justice.gov
Report federal fraud (OIG): https://oig.hhs.gov
Report your judge: https://www.ncsc.org/cjc

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