Chapter 6 - The Custody Hearing
The violation of the restraining order effectively destroyed Margaret’s family court case.
The judge for the "Grandparents' Rights" petition was a no-nonsense man named Judge Harris. Margaret sat at the plaintiff's table, looking furious and humiliated in her designer suit.
Her lawyer, Mr. Vance, tried his best. "Your Honor, my client is simply a loving grandmother who wants to maintain a bond with her only grandchild. The incident with the inhaler was a tragic misunderstanding of the severity of the child's condition."
Judge Harris looked over his glasses at Vance. "Counselor, your client was arrested yesterday for attempting to breach a school's security protocols to corner a child who has an active restraining order against her. Does that sound like a 'loving grandmother' to you?"
Mr. Vance cleared his throat nervously. "Emotions were high, Your Honor."
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"I am dismissing this petition with prejudice," Judge Harris banged his gavel. "Furthermore, Mrs. Sterling, if you attempt to contact this child again, I will personally see to it that you are held in contempt of court. You are a danger to his physical and emotional well-being. Case closed."
We walked out of the family courthouse holding hands. We had won the first battle. But the criminal trial was only a week away.
