Going to Court as a Witness

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@DWDavis (25797)
United States
November 22, 2022 7:34am CST
A week ago Monday I received a subpoena to appear in court today as a witness in a custody hearing involving one of my students. The parents separated a year ago because of the dad's ongoing adulterous affair and the mom was granted full custody of the kids. Now, the dad is no longer with the woman he was committing adultery with and wants the custody arrangement amended. Where do I come in? Good question. I didn't even know the parents were separated until I was informed to expect the subpoena by the mom. A couple of weeks earlier, both parents showed up for the parent/teacher conference and everything seemed fine between them. Their son is a straight-A student (not an easy feat in my class) and his conduct is above reproach. He has lots of friends and gets along well with everyone. At the end of the conference, when the parents asked if there was anything they needed to do to help their son with his school work, I told them that whatever they were doing was working great and they shouldn't change a thing. Little did I know that comment would see me spending one of the days of my Thanksgiving week vacation from school sitting in a courtroom waiting to take the witness stand. Ah well, just a little over six months, and these sorts of worries will be behind me. Have you ever been subpoenaed? Are you willing to share why?
9 people like this
8 responses
@JudyEv (382330)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 22
I think Vince was called once many years ago but I haven't. From memory, he had to state that a toolbox could have come from his place of work. Again from memory, I think he was unable to swear that it had so it had no special identifying marks.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
23 Nov 22
As it turned out, I didn't have to testify. After the attorneys finished their opening arguments, the judge felt he'd heard enough to decide to deny the dad's motion and dismiss the case.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382330)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 22
@DWDavis It's a shame that the kid has to go through this. Even with the best intentions of the parents, it has to affect a child.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Nov 22
I've never been. Interesting you were called in as a witness. Since the mom had full custody and I assume wants to keep it that way, I suppose the parent conference showed how well the son was doing under her sole care. Dad just happened to be there and was on his best behavior at that time was all.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Nov 22
@DWDavis That's for sure . . . I hope all goes in favor of the wife.
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@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
23 Nov 22
The dad made a huge mistake cheating on the mom and now he's paying for it.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209080)
• United States
22 Nov 22
I haven' been although I was once in court as a supportive party so to speak. I had a client who was involved in a child custody case.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209080)
• United States
23 Nov 22
@DWDavis You probably develop a thick shell after awhile.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
23 Nov 22
I cannot imagine being a Family Court judge and having to listen to those types of cases all day, every day.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86778)
• United States
22 Nov 22
No, I’ve never been subpoenaed. I’m surprised, too, because I took a tour of Enron Field right before that Enron scandal broke. I hope everything is okay. These days, the idea of a “messy custody battle” scares me.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
23 Nov 22
The judge denied the father's petition and dismissed the case before I had to testify. Dad was crushed. He left the courtroom in tears. Mom was in tears, too, tears of relief.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
23 Nov 22
I have never been called as a witness,I will never be called as a juror, we have professional jurors here.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135910)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Nov 22
I never had. Sounds like she wants you to repeat what you said to them as she is the one with custody so would bee the one making sure he does good.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
23 Nov 22
The judge actually quoted my comment on the boy's report card about what a great student he is before denying the father's petition.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135910)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Nov 22
@DWDavis I am not surprised that was why.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
22 Nov 22
No I haven't.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (127164)
• United States
22 Nov 22
That’s strange
1 person likes this