Richard A. Warshak PhD

Distinguished California State Senator Susan Rubio, talks frankly with Host Glass as she discusses legislation that deals with Domestic Violence and Parental Alienation. She is all about laws governing the areas of Domestic Violence, stepping up the constraints of Restraining Orders and prioritizing abuse allegations. In 2024, her authored “Piqui’s Law” (SB 331) passed unanimously. It mandates that judges engage in training in Domestic Violence and Child Abuse to understand how these issues should be handled in court. The law also prioritizes child abuse allegations and the restrictions of unification camps. “Piqui’s” Law (intent is on keeping children safe from family violence) was introduced to Rubio when the mother of Aramazd Andressian, Ana Estevez, contacted the Senator in 2017, after her ex-husband, who had a history of abusing her, took their 5-year-old child to Disneyland and shortly after smothered him to death with his jacket. It took Rubio seven years to write that landmark bill and mobilize support for it. Passed in 2023, the law was enacted in January 2024. During her interview with Glass, Rubio shares what Parental Alienation does to the child when either or both parents badmouth the other; how Restraining Orders (after the second one) should be grounds for making the “restrained” wear a tracking device, and how “reunification” camps (where the court orders the child to live with the other parent, or at an outside facility or camp and undergo an intense therapy program) may do more harm than good. Senator Rubio’s emphasis is on urging her constituents to contact her with their ideas and needs. She explains to Host Glass that her constituent’s “ideas” or needs often inspire her, and her colleagues. Constant urging translates to powerful legislation, she claims. It’s all about community, she further states in her interview. Rubio is also deeply embroiled with fellow legislative colleagues in writing additional laws that are meant to address other family (custody, etc.) issues.