New law could make fathers' rights come smoother

But other panelists said the group was open-minded and fair. The problem was not bias, but rather a lack of information, says study group member Jeff Edleson, a professor at the University of Minnesota who researches domestic violence. "There were grievances of both moms and dads who were concerned about their cases," he says. "What I wanted to see, and I didn't see, was any data."

One of the judges on the panel, Heidi Schellhas of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, also found the lack of information frustrating. "Shouldn't we figure out whether there is a problem, and if there is a problem, what is it?"

Nick Vlcek

Panelist Molly Olson says the study group seemed biased from the start

Rep. Tim Mahoney

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• Joel Lombard
• Tim Mahoney
• Inver Grove Heights
• Crime and Law
• Law

But Mahoney says the issue needs to be addressed, and soon. "My intent this year," he says, "is to move this bill forward."