The Abuser in Court (Projection Your Honor!)

Of all the performances that you will ever see on the stage, on tv, or
at the movies, few will ever compare with the drama that an abuser
can bring into the courtroom.

Hateful, vengeful, spiteful, angry, drama, projection are just a few things
that an abuser brings into court.

What an abuser may also bring into court are unethical people who will lie for them or rather, purger themselves. An abuser is almost always willing to do the same and can somehow manage to find friends and acquaintance who will do likewise.

If you are living with an abuser, you are already well aware that an
abusive person will accuse YOU, of what they themselves are doing and
will also sabotage you, your family or a situation.

What an abuser does at home is only the tip of the iceberg as to what
they will bring into court.

What YOU need to bring with you to court is facts and then admissible evidence to back up those facts. A personal journal is not evidence unless the details in it can be substantiated by other non interested parties or other proof so don't go into court armed with that alone.

Court is an abusers grand opportunity to put you down publicly and
you have no choice but to sit there and listen. It adds to their sense of entitlement. If an abusive person bests you in court one time, you can expect to be drug back into court over and over.

If you can prepare adequately and win the first time around, it will lessen the payoff for the abusive person and they may choose 'not' to go that route again. Abusive people like CONTROL, not losing. Along with that control, for one reason or another, abusive people are usually dependent upon those they abuse which adds to their desperation to win at all costs.

Get a good, aggressive attorney who understands how abusive people
behave in court. The best way to choose an attorney is narrow your list
of possibles down to a few and then go watch them in action.

Lundy Bancroft has some good information about how to deal with abusers in court. Insist that your attorney read up on it- on 'his or her' time at the first interview. If that attorney is not willing to do his or her homework, find one who will.

Can judges possibly know all these things and does it matter whether they do or not? Yes they can and yes it should! Victims have rights too and their rights and lives and those of their children should not hinge on the state of mind or mental health of an abusive person!

Texas Rules of Evidence - This is a lot of reading but read it. It is very important that you know and understand what is and is not allowed as evidence in court.

Computer Evidence and the Federal Rules of Evidence

If the legal or judicial system failed to protect you or a family member
from abuse Please Contact:
Amnesty International & The United Nations

Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at:
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224