"In the judicial system, gender bias results in decisions or actions that are based upon preconceived notions of sexual roles rather than on fair and impartial appraisals of individual situations"

"Gender bias exists in many forms throughout the Massachusetts court system. Sexist language and behavior are still common, despite an increased understanding that these practices are wrong. Beyond these overt signs of bias, many practices and procedures exist that may not appear motivated by bias but nonetheless produce biased results."

"Lawyers who practice before us, the support personnel who work with us, and our very own colleagues report that we sometimes [...] give fathers a raw deal"

"Gender bias runs rampant in our family court system."

"Beginning in the 1980s, many state court systems have established task forces to investigate the existence of gender bias in the courts. [...] These studies also have shown that judges do not always treat men and women equally in the courtroom"

"In order to discharge its mission, the Committee identified what it believed to be the key issues in its study. These included [...] gender bias in the juvenile justice system [and] disparities in sentencing"

"Since the 1960s, the country has undergone many changes in regard to family law. Despite these changes, family law appears to be stagnant in regard to custody decisions, which frequently award custody to the mother despite the current laws, which indicate custody decisions should be made in the 'best interests of the child'"

"Decisions in custody matters may reflect gender bias."

"The Commission found during its two years of hearings and study that gender bias-- discrimination based solely on one's sex--is a reality for far too many people involved in the legal system [...] gender bias permeates Florida's legal system today [and] is practiced to a disturbing degree by members of this state's legal profession"

"the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Men [...] found men treated unfairly by the family court system"

"One of the things propelling prejudice against men in family courts is the basing of decisions on stereotypical attitudes and beliefs [...] Many judges raised in traditional homes consisting of fathers as breadwinners and mothers as caretakers have resisted letting go of the ‘tender years’ doctrine"