Can we protect victims of domestic violence while "minimizing the abuse of the legal system" from unwarranted orders of protection, as author and dowstate attorney John J. Racklin puts it? He thinks so. In his article in the latest issue of the ISBA's Family Law newsletter, he offers several suggestions.

Take filing fees, for example. "I believe that charging a filing fee would make people think twice about filing frivolous pleadings. In addition, the county would be able to recoup some of the costs incurred in these cases," Racklin writes. And what about indigent petitioners? "They could request to have their fees and costs waived as is already allowed in other civil cases." Read his proposals here.