The following press release has been received from State Rep. Mike Tryon:
Veteran’s Court Legislation Effective Immediately
Springfield…Veterans facing non-violent criminal charges while suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome and other service-related disabilities will soon be able to receive treatment for those issues and have the charges dismissed under legislation that was recently signed into Illinois law. Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) was the chief sponsor of the bill.
State Rep. Mike Tryon outside a Veterans Stand-Down at Camp Algonquin.
“Recent studies indicate that up to forty percent of combat veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have been, or will be, diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, clinical depression, and related challenges,” said Tryon. “In turn, these issues can sometimes lead to criminal activity. Creating a veterans’ court enables the criminal justice system to re-connect a troubled veteran with a social network of friends and therapists who can help him or her overcome their service-related problems.”
The new law allows the Chief Judge of each judicial circuit to establish a Veterans and Servicemembers Court program. A veteran defendant may be admitted into the Veterans and Servicemembers Court program only upon the agreement of the prosecutor and the defendant and with the approval of the court, and only if the veteran’s offense was nonviolent in nature and if he or she does not fit into a number of other exclusion categories.
Upon successful completion by the defendant of the terms and conditions of the program, the court may dismiss the original charges against the defendant, successfully terminate the defendant’s sentence, or otherwise discharge him or her from further criminal proceedings.
“This legislation would put Illinois at the forefront of the movement that recognizes that veterans face unique challenges based on their experiences while serving our country,” said Tryon.
“Through this new public act we can offer veterans a therapeutic sentence rather than a criminal sentence if they are willing to cooperate under a court-ordered treatment program.”
The provisions of the new law take effect immediately.
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INFORMATIONAL COMMENT STATE COURT JUDGES
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Those many problems faced in veteran’s court can be eliminated by fair and equal justice. A disabled veteran when returning home may face one of their toughest battles, facing a judge in divorce court trying to keep his or her VA disability compensation from being awarded as alimony. Something that every citizen wishes for, is that we do everything possible to help our veterans.
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The statute which disabled veterans’ rely on is 38 USC 5301. Nonassignability and exempt status of benefits. “Payments of benefits due or to become due under any law administered by the Secretary shall not be assignable except to the extent specifically authorized by law,.. a beneficiary shall be exempt from taxation, shall be exempt from the claim of creditors, and shall not be liable to attachment, levy or seizure by or under any legal or equitable process whatever, either before or after receipt by the beneficiary.
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Is the state violating the law? As read, 5301 it is quite clear. But when a disabled veteran appears before a judge and opposing attorneys, tried is every interpretation of law possible to win judgment and secure as alimony award a veteran’s disability compensation. What about child support? Should the veteran be responsible for that? Many veterans have argued 5301 exempts child support as well. The initial focus however, being on those veterans” not having child support as an issue, but this evolves later.
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Opposing lawyers, state court judges and the ex-spouse, their arguments rely on states rights, stare decisis, forum shopping, contract law, etc., and finally almost in all of these cases, the courts will rely on Rose v. Rose. A disabled triple amputee veteran, blind in one eye, requiring constant care, Charlie Wayne Rose, was sent to jail for failing to pay alimony and child support. Released after a short period when he agreed to relinquish his disability compensation for child support.
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However, in support of alimony only, having no child support issues, divorce courts, judges, lawyers, most always refer to Rose v. Rose, a child and alimony support case, because it’s available, convenient and will prevail. New Hampshire, Brownell v Brownell, “Lower courts have repeatedly implemented Rose, and an “overwhelming majority of courts” have held that veterans’ disability payments may be considered as income in awarding alimony.” Brownell was not a child support issue, but you did notice, the opposing lawyer managed to bring up Rose v Rose which was a child support issue. Brownell, of course lost a portion of his disability compensation as alimony.
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But this is not how the VA General Council John Thompson had interpreted the Rose case. 8/4/98 testimony of Congressional and Legislative Affairs statement of John Thompson, acting General counsel Department of Veterans Affairs before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. Mr. Thompson speaking on the subject, disability compensation may be attached. In clarifying for the VA, its legal definition, stating, “The sole exception is that VA compensation received in lieu of waived military retired pay can be garnished in order to satisfy court-ordered child support and alimony obligations.”
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Mr. Thompson then states, “VA benefits, including even disability compensation received in lieu of retired pay, are also protected by Federal law from court-ordered divisions of property upon veterans’ divorces. However, The United States Supreme Court ruled in Rose v. Rose 481 U.S. 6219(1987) that state courts are not precluded from setting child support obligations at such levels that veterans would necessarily have to use some of their disability compensation to meet them.”
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Veterans Administration counsel Mr. Thompson’s explanation of “sole exception” is exactly what it is, which involves two (2) conditions… before “VA compensation received in lieu of waived military retired pay can be garnished in order to satisfy court-ordered child support and alimony obligations.” Two (2) conditions, child support and alimony. For those disabled veterans’ having no child support issues, this is not that “sole exception.” The courts in many cases do not make any exceptions .
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A defense in protecting a disabled veteran’s compensation is available, that of “due process”. As well as mentioning other claims, which as you read exposes the VA’s lack of oversight of the it’s rules and regulations and exposes the illegal state court rulings interfering with VA medical procedures regarding disability compensation which has led to “clear and substantial” major damage to federal interests.
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State court rulings awarding disability compensation are routinely processed by the VA, the governmental entity, in spite of 38 USC 5301, and VA General council’s precedential interpretations, VA regulations, laws on the books, and the many years of disabled veterans complaints.
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“Clear and substantial” major damage to federal interests occurs when state court judges make lasting decisions, partly based on Rose v. Rose, that seriously impact disabled veterans’ rated compensation and complicate Veterans Administration goals, and responsibilities. Upsetting, by overruling VA medical compensation decisions, which involve many hours of work that VA medical professionals have invested in the medical care, control, follow-up, and rehabilitation of disabled veterans. All this happens with VA complicity, when a state court, arbitrarily is allowed to take away a veterans VA disability compensation in third party alimony awards in violation of….. 38 USC 5301. Nonassignability and exempt status of benefits, and…. 38 USC 1155 Authority for schedule for rating disabilities. “However, in no event shall such a readjustment in the rating schedule cause a veteran’s disability rating in effect on the effective date of the readjustment to be reduced unless an improvement in the veteran’s disability is shown to have occurred.” 42 USC § 407 – Assignment of benefits, carries similar language.
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Reduction in disability compensation cannot be “reduced unless an improvement in the veteran’s disability is shown to have occurred.” When processing a reduction order, the VA would be violating the regulation 38 CFR 3.105 (e) when no medical evaluation has been ordered showing any physical improvement.
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To a veteran his total disability compensation payments is contingent upon what VA medical professionals determined the disabled veteran injuries should be compensated for. Forgetting for the moment, any rating system, to the veteran who loses any portion of his disability compensation payments by the courts, he has been unlawfully downgraded and now any disability rating is totally meaningless. What happens to a disabled veteran’s health, piece of mind, overall well being that the courts now have put in jeopardy, contributed to the never ending psychological and devastating consequences of what the courts had dealt, affecting thousands of disabled veterans? A “cause and effect” situation. Where is it written?
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Where is it written, the VA authority, when a state judge can arbitrarily overrule the VA, the VA medical doctors and other medical professionals’ that determine a veterans’ medical rating compensation? His future now without the compensation that was by law assured? Tax payer monies mandated by Congress purposely, as veterans service compensation for injuries received, life altering as they are, now being diverted purposely by state courts to healthy third parties in many cases, in a determined and engaging violation of the law.
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Which brings up “due process”. How is it, that state court judges can arbitrarily and capriciously award as alimony, with the mere wave of a hand waive away a portion of a veteran’s VA disability rated compensation, moneys in the form of disability compensation, the disability rights of a veteran, whose disability rating that maybe determined and factored in as critical? Judgment as if all disabilities are exactly the same? State court judges, are in reality, playing doctor, without medical license or knowledge .. a practice forbidden, providing penalties by law , and border on medical negligence. All without any input, or approval from the Veterans Administration, overstepping those whose authority it belongs, the dedicated VA medical professionals, in the practice of medicine, re-evaluation, and rehabilitation of the veteran. While at the same time violating federal law, 38 USC 5301, 42 USC 1408.
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The ACLU position, which makes the point, “Federal Court Hears Arguments In Case Defending Transgender People’s Right To Access Medical Treatment in Prison.” Feb 7, 2011. ACLU And Lambda Legal Argue That Doctors, Not Legislators, Should Determine Medical Treatment.
“We hope this court will affirm the principle that is so important to all of us – doctors, and not legislators, should decide what medical treatment is critical for their patients.”
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State court judges may have adjudicated “due process” in income support distribution, divorce finalized and ended. However, this is only one part of two (2) separate “due process” issue proceedings. This is not just a one “due process” fits all situations, as state court judges may want you to think. When a veterans disability compensation is court ordered as part of any support distribution, before that “consideration” of any VA connected disability compensation, as part of any alimony award, there is a separate “due process” right, to fair adjudication of a veterans’ claim for disability compensation benefits. This has never been done. Entitlement to benefits is a property interest protected by the Due Process Clause. To allow what has been happening, was it the intent of Congress that state court judges substitute their judgment for the judgment of VA doctors and medical professionals? I don’t think so!
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As you can surmise from what you have read, this is an issue involving veterans’ from every state, and a mistaken belief by state courts that the solution to this problem can only be solved on a federal level. However, courts recognizing the “due process” and property rights of the disabled veteran, the result being the reality that disability compensation is then exempt in both alimony and child support, confirming Congress’ intent in the wording of 38 USC 5301
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PHILIP E. CUSHMAN, v. ERIC K. SHINSEKI, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, August 12, 2009.
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http://linehanpc.com/vadisabilityclaim/cushmanvshinseki.html
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“It is well established that disability benefits are a protected property interest and may not be discontinued without due process of law. See Atkins v. Parker, 472 U.S. 115, 128 (1985); Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 332 (1976)”
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Just to be clear, many states do observe and respect federal law 38 USC 5301. Two cases not involving child support. California, Piner v. Piner, the judge had respected federal law and disallowed the use of a veteran’s disability compensation to be used as alimony. However, the judge gave him an ultimatum, forcing the veteran having to use his disability compensation in alimony support, by a set-off or assignment … or go to jail! To put it in prospective, the state court judge refused to violate federal law, but expects the veteran to violate that same law. New Hampshire, if Ronald Brownell, should refuse to hand over his disability compensation as ordered by the court, the judge would hold him in contempt of court, and can be ordered to jail. If, instead Brownell was forced to pay alimony reluctantly by the threat of jail time, he too, will violate federal law 38 USC 5301, “Nonasignability and exempt status of benefits.” This would end with “due process”.
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Did Charlie Wayne Rose, the severely disabled veteran, mentioned earlier, have this “due process”? I can find no mention of it in case documents available.
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In conclusion, our disabled men and women veterans, both returning and those having served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and past wars endure facing the stress of both the emotional and physical issues of rehabilitation, unemployment, future uncertainty, suicide, PTSD, self-worth leading to depression. For many, adding are years of facing a far greater emotionally charged setting, a divorce court battle. Financially and psychologically draining, fighting for the right to keep their earned VA disability compensation, against court room rulings that fail in their duty to advise and observe its duty to procedures of due process rights, and the court’s proper place in a medical decision over the rights due a disabled veteran.
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The Veterans’ Administration, as is their duty by law, has administratively respected state court judgments and processed illegal state court ordered judgments in awarding a veteran’s VA disability compensation as alimony child support. Under the circumstances of law as described, it is now up to state courts, state court judges, to uphold their sworn obedience and respect for the law. Now that you have this information, it is hoped disabled veterans’ get the respect that they sacrificed, fought for and deserve.
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A decision by the courts in recognizing veterans ‘due process” rights would forever settle once-and-for-all something that disabled veterans have been waiting for many years to confirm, 38 USC 5301 means what it says.
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September 3rd 2012 Jack Elliott Jr. Associated press
MISSISSIPPI. SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS DIVORCE DECREE INVOLVING VETERAN’S DISABILITY BENEFITS,
The Mississippi court reversed a decision in a Lamar County divorce case, citing a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1989 that federal law does not permit state court divorce decrees to divide the disability benefits. The court said federal law pre-empts state law.