Proving that child support enforcement is an extraordinarily draconian, unfair system, a Chicago man has been subjected to state harassment for 20 years despite the court finding that he was excluded from paternity in 2001. When Sean Harbin suspected the child was not his and stopped paying support, the state began to seize his money, which prompted him to litigate over custody. He was proven by testing not to be the father, but when he showed up at court he was stonewalled by procedure. Unable to afford an attorney, Mr. Harbin would stand in front of the judge with the proof that he was not the father, but according to the Illinois Division of Child Support Services “Sean’s biggest mistake was not knowing what petition to ask for. When the genetic test came back, all he had was the results. He never had the order to end the support or vacate the order.”
In other words, he had proof, but that wasn’t enough. It never is. This is why the term “justice” should not be associated with US family law. The system is designed to trap men in a well of debt, no matter what the circumstances. In 2009, the court suspended his driver’s license. To this day, despite everyone in the Cook County court system being fully aware that he is not the father, Sean Harbin is still on the hook. This is America, folks.
If you’re ever tempted to consider a feminist’s position, just remember that you could be in Sean Harbin’s shoes, and feminists are to blame for this state of affairs.
