08/30/2026
Welcome to Season 2 Episode 10 of Justice for the Serlick Children Podcast, recorded on Saturday, August 29th, 2026.
🚨 THE FINAL APPEAL: Illinois Supreme Court Denies PLA | The Reality of Family Court & Moving Forward
In this live broadcast, we break down the final chapter of Heather’s Illinois family court battle. From Circuit 19 to the Second District Court of Appeal and ultimately the Illinois Supreme Court, we analyze the systemic issues, the circular reasoning used in appellate rulings, and the failure of higher courts to supervise and hold lower courts accountable.
While Heather’s Illinois legal battle has reached the end of the road, the mission does not stop here. We also share exciting personal milestones, what’s next for the nonprofit, and upcoming updates on our fight against parental alienation.
📌 In This Episode:
* The Long Road Through Illinois Courts – Tracing the case from the 19th Judicial Circuit Court through the 2nd District Court of Appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.
* The PLA Denial Breakdown – What the Petition for Leave to Appeal meant and why the state Supreme Court refused to review the ruling.
* Appellate Contradictions & Shielding Lower Courts – Exposing the circular logic used by appellate judges and why higher courts repeatedly refuse to enforce their own rules against rogue lower courts.
* Victim Advocacy & Free Support – How Heather is using her experience through Justice for the Serlick Children Inc. (501(c)(3)) to advocate for family court victims, securing grants and funding so families don’t have to pay a dime.
* Personal Celebrations & Moving Forward – Celebrating Heather completing her paralegal certification and Pete completing his Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation.
* Upcoming Bombshell Episode Teaser – A sneak peek into a massive discovery made this week concerning parental alienation.
⏱️ Key Timestamps:
Video Chapters & Time Codes
[00:00] – Intro & Legal Disclaimer
[01:42] – Welcome & Overview of the Petition for Leave to Appeal (PLA)
[03:11] – Case Timeline & Background (Illinois to Florida Move)
[04:15] – Analysis of the April 27, 2022 Ex Parte Order [06:44] – Motion to Vacate in Circuit 19 & Dismissal
[09:45] – The UCCJEA and the "Circular Logic" Jurisdictional Paradox
[14:45] – Illinois Supreme Court PLA Denial & District 2 Appellate Ruling [18:02] – Critique of Lower Court Rulings & Family Court Accountability
[23:44] – Spotlight on the "Judge-y" / Judgmental Podcast (Episode 111)
[25:54] – Personal Health Update: PTSD Diagnosis & Pro Se Litigation
[27:12] – Nonprofit Advocacy (501(c)(3)), Paralegal Course & NALA Membership
[32:04] – Pete’s ChFC Financial Services Designation Update
[33:20] – Household Updates & Preview of Upcoming Pre-Recorded Episode
[35:40] – Consumer Warning Regarding Paid Advocates & Closing Thoughts
[37:25] – Outro & Closing Disclaimer
🤝 Support the Mission & Stay Connected
* 🏛️ Justice for the Serlick Children Inc. (501(c)(3) Non-Profit)
* 🔔 Subscribe for future case updates, breakdowns, and live streams.
* 💬 Join the Discussion: Leave your thoughts, questions, or experiences in the comments below!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video/podcast is for educational, informational, and advocacy purposes only and does not constitute formal legal or financial advice.
*Google Drive Link to the Documents Discussed:*
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y6B2UBBPSaFW5K_Fdh6lTMlR-MmXn0Ag/view?usp=sharing
My Illinois Case:
Heather L. Bendl (Petitioner) vs. Justin D. Serlick (Respondent)
Case # 13 D 981 / 20 F 422
D2COA Case # 2-25-0481
IL Supreme Court Case # 133148
My Florida Case:
https://www.clerk.org/
Heather L. Bendl (Petitioner) vs. Justin D. Serlick (Respondent)
Case # 2023-31828 FMCI
D5COA Case # 5D2025-1056 / 5D2025-1442 / D5COA Case # 5D2025-2188 / D5COA Case # 5D2025-2696 (All Four Consolidated)
To sign up for "Disrupt the Corrupt" and/or "Support Isn't Silent" Podcast please click here:
https://forms.gle/ub88VKsREnUiMGeF9
**National Movements**
Attorney Christine Miller and Attorney Hugh Barrow's NEW Judge-Y App:
https://judge-y.com/ and The JudgeMental Podcast https://www.youtube.com/-dU0SPtCXCjfyd_lLaYXg
Link to EP 111 "Back for More": https://youtu.be/nkh4E20884Q?si=LZY4a-kIDDV9aPXL
Mark Ludwig's Legislative Leadership Development Program:
https://stlmarkludwig.com/legislative-leadership-development-program
https://stlmarkludwig.com/
https://ncesp.org/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066880196187
Mark Ludwig's new book Parental Alienation Playbook:
https://parentalalienationplaybook.com/
with Jessica Saxton
https://justicewithoutlimits.org/
Jessica Saxton's Citizen Report Survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccmb8abe6boc8I9jMGGLCK3uscD0W7o-BXK47otN62XnEqwQ/viewform
Stand with Meg:
https://standwithmeg.com/