I wasn't exactly correct when I said, "Then we met the judge." Court was a shocking experience. The supposed purpose was for the judge (Stephen M. George) to hear evidence to decide whether or not the Emergency Protective Order should remain in force. That would continue to protect the boys. There was a small glitch in the system, though. We didn't get to meet the judge, because he wouldn't hear evidence from the witnesses. Let me explain.
Family Court in Kentucky has a somewhat unique status. They're authorized by law to close the courtroom if necessary to protect the best interests of the child. It appears that isn't quite the way it works, though. Family Court judges in Louisville close all the courts all the time. Family, friends, and the public never know what's going on in the courtroom. Apparently none of us have the best interests of our neices, nephews, or grandchildren at heart. We're ignorant, uneducated oafs who can't be trusted. So we're locked out of the public courtroom we're paying for, presided over by a judge we elected. How odd. We're smart enough to elect such a magnificent specimen of judgehood (is that a word?), but too dumb to be allowed to watch him work. Go figure.
Now, being locked out didn't sit well with me. But I took it gracefully because the welfare of the boys was at stake. I waited patiently, along with my wife and a family friend who is also familiar with the neglect and abuse the boys suffer at home. We waited, and we waited, and we waited. And then guess what. T.J. came out of the courtroom and told us the judge had dissolved the order and adjourned the court, without hearing our testimony. It seems he didn't have enough evidence to keep the order in force. Yet he wouldn't let the three witnesses testify, which might have given him the evidence he needed. Is there something rotten here in Denmark? (That's more Shakespeare, in case you didn't recognize it.)
On the subject of evidence, here's a photo the judge had in front of him. It's little Hunter's arm after he was bitten. See what you think.
