Custody Battle Highlights National Problem

A children's rights group is choosing Bradley County to get their message out to the rest of the country.

The executive director of the American Coalition of Families & Children says he's here because of an ongoing divorce battle involving a father who has been denied his rights.

Thanksgiving will be the first holiday Jeremy Hopkins says he'll spend with his 4 year old daughter Kate since he and his wife filed for divorce two years ago.

"All I want if for my daughter to have a mother and a father and I have felt like I've been calling for help in the darkness for 2 years," says Hopkins.

In 2006, family members say a judge denied Hopkins the right to see his daughter on a regular basis. That judge has since retired.

Now Hopkins and a team of supporters want to change that ruling.

Michael McCormick, executive director for the American Coalition of Families and Children, says Hopkin's problem is common and blames the court system.

"I think this is common of what we are seeing around the country prolonged litigation all at the expense of the child so this will put a spotlight on what we are seeing all around the country," says McCormick.

McCormick says Hopkins situation is one of 14 million across the U.S

He says children who spend unequal time with parents are likely to have more problems like dropping out of school or going to jail.

McCormick says making an example out of this situation will bring awareness to a growing problem.

"The state needs to stop preference on parent relationship one parents relationship over the other with the child. And that's the situation we have here winners and losers are being created and what we end up with are losers all the way around," says McCormick.

The Hopkins family says the custody battle has been turned over to another Judge. They hope he will help them win equal rights and more holidays with Kate.

"I cant tell you how much it means for me to have people to listen because I know if people listen they will not stand for what's happening to these children," says Hopkins.

This case could be the topic of a reality show, camera crews were at today's press conference. Michael McCormick and actor Alec Baldwin, who went through a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife Kim Basinger, are expected to be on Larry King Live Wednesday night at 9p.m Central time talking about custody battles for dads.