On April 7 2010 I traveled to Boston on the Hamilton Rail, and arrived at Middlesex Probate Court with my Media gear but had no intention of taping. I had planned to tape on Beacon Hill at noon.
When I arrived I had to leave my gear with the Guard at the Scanning machine. I went to the information booth gave the number of my case to watch and was told the case was going to be heard on the 4th floor Courtroom 3. I did not know the woman I was going to watch. I did not know the Judge either. I have not been Court Watching but wanted to see what the case was that Victor Montalvo was denied access to.
Two Court Officers were assigned to this room. There was a line of people speaking with the Clerk and registering in. Soon the line was stopped and we waited to see the Judge enter. I arrived at the Court building around 845am. I had gotten on the 650 train and taken the green line to Lechmere straight from North Station. I walked a short walk to the Court with my gear in the familiar bag on wheels.
I soon decided I thought I could recognize who was the person I wanted to meet. I asked if she was the woman and she stated back she was. I stood up and greeted her introducing myself as Catch of the Day, Video News, Freelance Reporting. I did not announce myself to the Guard. I wanted to just watch and report what I saw the whole morning. This was a Marital Hearng session. Many people had similiar issues on varying levels of entry. One case was a couple who sadly touched me the most. They had decided to part but had no animosity to each other. Both were Air Force Military personnel. It was heartbreaking to see them walk out. One child was invovled and both of them were attractive and peacable. What a road they just chose.
Another case was a couple that had a child but the child had reached court majority and the father had manipulated the child to live with him. The court ordered a GAL and that both pay. They agreed but the mother was deeply hurt and broken. I was really sorry for her . I have been there. That is not a pretty place to be. There is much pain on that path to come.
Then there was a case where the money was discussed for a GAL. 8 thousand dollars?
The Judge was disturbed by the amount but did not acquiesce to any fee limit. He just ordered the GAL to be paid no matter what the cost. This was going to be a financial nightmare in the making. No GAL no justice for this case. The Judge wanted evaluations in place before the next court date.
As the morning went by it became more obvious the woman I wanted to watch was being steered to a last call. At different points I went outside to stretch my legs and had some seconds to talk to her. I gathered she had been in an accident in 2002. She had extensive back injuries that altered her life. She presupposes she will become wheelchair bound at some point. She was walking but very uncomfortable in the hard benches everyone sat in. She also had a history of celiac disease. I don't know much about that one. I finally realized I was not going to be going to the statehouse at noon. I decided to just wait.
I had a call around 930 on my cell. I had it in my pocket and was able to feel it but not hear it somehow so I decided to leave it on. A friend was coming and would be giving me a lift home. I was going to give her my placard but the Court Officer walked in looked at me with my phone in had and yelled that he would take it from me because he simply had ordered that phones be off. I am press my phone was not disruptive and I needed to have it on to read emails of stories and to contact Hector at Suffolk Court covering the other case. I got up and left and ignored this ignorant person with power.
Having been in the company of many court officers on beacon hill and about town I am aware of the pit bull tactics they use to intimidate justice in the courtroom. They are not exempt from error believe me. In fact as the time passed the Judge ordered a 10 minute break. When we came back the ac was on. In fact about 3 cases were left. And the ac was loud, so loud you could not hear the cases being heard from the public seating area. I was ticked. Soon the ac was turned down but one of the Court Officers body language jerked to the other to turn it up so that it was louder.. and the minion complied. I moved 3 times nearer to hear but my own ear infection blocks and the sound prevented me from hearing. HOWEVER, I had instructed the woman to speak up as I saw the intention of these two court scoundrels as it was happening. She did. And each time she spoke clearly the Judge leaned toward her to speak more softly. Body language denied she continued to speak boldly. The Judge threatened her with jail 160 days and gave her an Attorney as she was PRO SE upon her request then gave her a GAL to help with this process of discovery for her majority age son now 16 .. who is the object of this nightmare for her.. which she will have to pay for. All said and done this process took all of 20 minutes. 145start time. She will be odering the audio transcript of this remarkable 20 minute saga.
We exited the Court and at the door I asked if I could do a Press Conference in the downstairs lobby and was told no.. cameras allowed. I could do it outside but not on Court property??
Please let's get this straight. Is this public money that pays that place their wages and the Judges?? I think we have a problem ..
So out we went and I was able to get the following video interview http://www.blip.tv/file/3456038 in place of only 10 minutes for you to digest. This is family court in the 2000's. We are looking at the downfall of the people one case at a time in family court feeding the legal system the Judicial Jurispreponderance and the Jail birds paradise .. but wait there's more.. the courts will now be watched by
Court Watch.. a group started by the above lady and you can get a pdf of a form to watch in your town. Please consider helping on this mammoth attempt to rectify a national epidemic of miscarriage of justice. Please help. This is monumental and can be so useful to people who want to know about the court marital saga.. we all enter when we decide to de vor ce (devour) one another.
will post the links as soon as I can get my hands on them.. JAldrich
case details on the above case 4 7 10 http://www.comflm.com/id226.html
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