My daughter was made aware of the presnece of a judge in this matter shortly after she was placed in her Father’s custody in 2015. She asked why she was still there and I told her the judge thgouhg that she might be happier there to which she replied that she was not happy.
After the trial that awarded her Father permanent custody in July 2016, I explained to my daughter again that this is what the judge thought was best and, in a few years, if she still wanted to come back to Mommy’s house she could talk to the judge.
In December 2016 as the end of Christmas visitation approached my daughter begged me to let her talk to the judge because she did not want to go back to his house, I told her she was not ready yet and due to her Father’s ongoing malicious actions I did not see my daughter again for six months until on May 26, 2017. The first thing out of her mouth after we got out of his hearing was that she wanted to talk to the judge.
Coincidentally, a hearing has been scheduled for June 28, in which I am bringing new post trial evidence to the court and asking for a modification. I will presenting false statements her father made in emails about alleged injuries my daughter obtained during the May 26-29 visit and his attempt to file a protective order against me in his jurisdiction to suspend the June 10 visitation. The judge did not suspend this visitation and my daughter is with me in NC, which currently hold jurisdiction.
Father has since filed another Motion to dismiss my motion (his motion to dismiss was already dismissed once) and a motion to expedite change of jurisdiction, which prompted me to file an ex parte emergency custody motion - which will at least be reviewed by the date of the June 28 hearing…his motion to change jurisdiction seems to based on the fact that the behaviors and actions by him that are contentious and malicious toward my relationship with my child and her well being have taken place in his jurisdiction therefore he should be allowed to defend himself in his jurisdiction?
My daughter wants to speak to the judge at this hearing, she will be eight on July 25 and is very mature for her age. Do I just show up in court with her and tell the judge that she wants to speak to her or is there a more customary way of handling this. My daughter is only afraid to talk to the judge in front of her father, who claims he doesn’t plan to be there. Even if the judge denies this request I want it on record that I made it and it was denied for future proceedings as this whole proceeding has dismissed my daughters’ well-being and been beyond biased towards her Father who has a very tricky- sneaky attorney, while my counsel was instructed me to take the high road and was financially starved before withdrawing. What is the most respectable way to go about doing this - getting my daughter in front of the judge - relating to court procedure.