I am a huge fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, usually referred to by its initials, UFC. This comes as a big surprise to those getting to know me, because in my professional life I am dedicated to helping Tampa Bay families peacefully resolve their differences via the collaborative law process. But there is something about the techniques, the artistry, the competition, the drama of a good fight that keeps drawing me to watch the sport.
And yet, I am not a big fan of another UFC, the Unified Family Courts, at least not as a means to resolve family disputes. Beginning in 1991, a series of Florida Supreme Court opinions set out to create separate court division for families going through divorce, coordinate actions among the judges, and resolve family law issues in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost-effective method. Though we have incredible and dedicated judges, clerks, and court staff who try their very best, it is still a very flawed system for helping families move on with their lives.
This post looks to compare these two UFCs.
