From a book written in 1994:
Perhaps the reason that their mothers’ status has been so determinative in custody issues is that children have no voice of their own. In this story of child custody children are seen but rarely heard. Court records offer sparse details about children, usually omitting their names, while providing lengthy accounts of the conduct and misconduct of their parents
The author apparently did not become aware that juvenile court proceedings are conducted in secret, which is why the names of the children are not even mentioned. If the author’s claim that half of all children are affected b disputes is correct, that would explain a lot.