Court Side

Folk wisdom has it that dad is prosecutor, defense attorney, judge and jury. Of course, folk wisdom also insists fathers can't give birth. [Earlier: Daddy Mommy]

The facts are that some daddies do find themselves in situations that call out for a little bit of judicial and judicious help. So, Jamie Spears, who has the (un)enviable task of trying to bring financial order to the personal disorder of daughter Britney, has to ask — and has received — permission to sell off her white elephant abode.

And Lancashirian Neil Metcalfe received some help weening his son from the gang teet. It meant ratting out his son to the police, but son and daughter have forgiven him ... so they say.

Desperately needing aid he has yet to receive is the anonymous Kuwaiti pop who got bopped, plopped and mopped up by his brood of three. He tried to discipline them for making a nuisance in the house and was proven right in charge, if not in execution of authority as they beat him up (in the house) and sent him on his way to the hospital.

But, like everything, there is a need for moderation. A line that should probably not be crossed. And, again, as always, no line remains uncrossed. So it is with some weary shock that WD also takes note of the Canadian court that cut the legs off a dad (so to speak). Quebec Superior Court Justice Suzanne Tessier has ruled that a father can't ground his 12-year-old daughter. He took away some of her internet privileges after she posted pictures — and argued with her step-mom and the ex-wife got involved and .... well, there's probably more here than it being reported.

Long, complicated, family dysfunction short: sections 159 and 604 of the Quebec Civil Code, give kids the right to take their parents to court to challenge an exercise of parental authority and Her Honor said he couldn't keep his daughter from a school outing she wanted to attend. And he lost custody. This won't end well.