032: From Advocacy to Law: Tom Alongi & Patricia Madsen on The Alec & Lydia Act| Part 2

To kick off Season Four of Voices Against Filicide, Hope sits down with attorneys Tom Alongi and Patricia Madsen, two of the legal minds who helped shape the Alec and Lydia Act (HB 2995).

This episode will be released in two parts as they discuss how the legislation came to life, what it changes within Arizona family court, and why recognizing coercive control, domestic violence, and patterns of abuse is so important when protecting children and survivors.

They also dive into written findings, temporary orders, accountability, and what these changes could mean for families moving forward.

This is more than legislation; it is part of Alec and Lydia’s legacy and the continued fight to protect children and families.

Thomas Alongi
Family Law Attorney
Alongi Law Firm PLLC
Website: https://alongilawteam.studio/?fbclid=IwY2xjawT-mOBwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXBYWmFDdExFUXNOaXFXNHpzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeZEMEVeQ-ap9i4Bgjaf_tEBk-lNSrcQx87_sPOKicCYdOe70jumONozg3Yio_aem_HnS8tJlJuC2gP-FuALn7Ig

Patricia Madsen
Patricia Madsen is the Managing Attorney of the Family Law Unit at Community Legal
Services (CLS) in Phoenix, Arizona. CLS is one of three nonprofit civil legal aid
organizations in Arizona that together provide civil legal assistance to low-income
Arizonans throughout the state. During her 25-year tenure at CLS, she has served on a
number of legal and community-based committees, advocating for victims and survivors
of domestic violence and their children. She is currently a member of the Arizona
Supreme Court’s Committee on Family Court (COFC) and the Committee on the Impact
of Domestic Violence and the Courts (CIDVC). In addition to engaging in legislative
advocacy, Ms. Madsen has directly contributed to several improvements in the Arizona
court rules for protective orders and family law procedure. Most recently, her analysis
and commentary during the drafting process, as well as direct advocacy with
stakeholders, was instrumental in the passage of the Alec and Lydia Act in June of
2026.

Website = https://clsaz.org/
Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/communitylegalservicesarizona
Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/clsarizona/

AZ Law Help = https://azlawhelp.org/

AZ Court Help = https://azcourthelp.org/

https://www.lsc.gov/

https://acesdv.org/

TRIGGER WARNING
This podcast contains deeply disturbing content, including firsthand accounts from parents and family members who have lost children to familicide—the murder of a child by a parent or caregiver. The stories are raw, emotional, and include details of immense loss, system failures, and trauma. Listeners are advised to take care, and may pause or stop the podcast if needed.

Connect with Hope Hooton:
Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hopeinthepain
Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com

Support & Subscribe:
If you found this episode meaningful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast to amplify the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves.

Voices Against Filicide Merch Shop:
https://momcast-productions.myspreadshop.com/

The Rowan Project:
https://therowanproject.org/

Production Credits:
Written, Researched, and Hosted by: Hope Hooton
Produced & Edited by: Rachel Holloway
A Momcast Production

Voices Against Filicide is a part of Momcast Production LLC.
All content, including but not limited to audio, written materials, and visual assets, are protected under copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this content is strictly prohibited. © 2024 Momcast Production LLC. All rights reserved.