The hearing was to be over at 5 p.m. They insisted on bringing in the last witness because he had travelled from out of town.
We had submitted over 100 affidavits showing what shunning does to families. My children's father was trying to persuade the court to give him custody saying that there is no such thing as shunning in families. We dropped the 100+ affidavits the afternoon before court. That is why the "brother" states that for every bad experience there is, there are many more good ones. They didn't have one.
We knew he was picking for words and so did the court. On the paper I help up, I had written, "Custody Brochure, Custody Information, Custody Packet, Custody Tract,...." My attorney said it was like trying to nail Jello to a tree.
It took three attorney years of this stuff and me sending hundreds of e-mails and having people call them for them to believe that this stuff actually happened. It threw him for a loop when it happened to him in court.
Also, we obtained the Custody Brochure and it's counter document along with over 300 pages of documentation as to Theocratic War Strategy at it's finest. Just having him deny it, was enough. The Judge got the picture. When someone lies, I was told by attorneys, you let them sit. Dont' ask additional questions to wiggle out. Let it ride. It's a lie.
My own parents had testified before this and my mother stated in court "my good man (to the judge mind you) my daughter was molested by my husband but she was old enough, she was over 12." The Judge saw the sickness for what it was and asked for a recess because he was going to be ill. My father also signed an affidavit saying I was incapable of being a parent due to being molested!!! He was outside in the car. My best friend walked out of the courthouse with me, the worldly friend who wasn't allowed in my house the entire 13 years we grew up together, and gave him a double salute.
Every witness they brought for use against us, only convinced the court they will lie arrogantly in the face of the law.
We brought over 300 pages of affidavits from around the world, signed and sealed by notaries, etc., newspaper clippings about the horrendous acts of fathers killing their families in the face of shunning, ShunnedFather sent 2 inches of affidavit himself. The court allowed us to exceed the legal limits for presentation of evidence to be considered and the judge took days to read it all.
The outcome was they initally banned ALL shunning of me by anyone. The children cannot be allowed to have any contact with anyone who considers me less than an upstanding JW.
I sat for three months in the County Prosecutor's Office, Police Dept., COP's desk, Atty. Gen's office, to get him charged with perjury for this. Long story short, he was charged. Charges were dropped because the State doesn't have the man-power to prosecute perjury. So that tells you what telling the truth on the stand is worth; your dignity; that's it.
My ex proceeded to take the kids to a counsellor who had "nice JW family". She wrote a letter to the court. They pulled the "First Amendment" card. He got custody.
My question: Where are my first amendment rights to leave a religion while not surrending my rights to be a parent?
Forgot to add: I have had 6 protective orders on my ex and he plead "no contest" to stalking me. Not a nice guy to have control of your children's futures, spirituality, well-being, and ultimately, mine.