Hi everyone… I’m really trying to wrap my head around this. I had court recently for a protection order in a domestic violence case where I’m the plaintiff. The judge kept interrupting my testimony to bring other parties from different cases up to the bench to sign agreements. Is this normal? It felt really weird, and it made it super hard for me to give my testimony. The judge seemed bored every time I tried to go back to what I was saying, and then after I’d finish, he’d ask, ‘are you done?’ It felt like what I was saying lost meaning since I couldn’t get through my points in one go. I would get halfway through and then he’d pause, going ‘off the record’ to deal with someone else. This happened two or three times while I was trying to present my case. I didn’t have a lawyer, but I was organized and had rehearsed everything. It felt like his head wasn’t focused on my case, and I had to rush through important stuff. In the end, my case was dismissed. It feels wrong, and I’m wondering if this is a valid reason to appeal. By the way, this was a retired judge from a different area of court.
That doesn’t sound normal at all. You could either appeal or try to have the judge removed due to bias. But if you do that, the request goes to that judge first, and it might just make things worse for you. Appeals can be tough because it’s a whole different process.
I understand how frustrating this must be. You’re dealing with such serious matters, and it’s not fair to be interrupted like that. How long were you actually talking before the interruptions?
I’ve had similar experiences in different states. It seems like family law courts can be really busy, and judges sometimes have to juggle multiple cases. It’s frustrating, but it does happen.
It’s definitely not normal for judges to interrupt testimony like that. I would suggest re-filing your case with the same facts and hoping for a different judge. This situation deserves attention.
Definitely consult with an attorney about your options. You might also consider filing a formal complaint about the judge’s behavior. It might help your case in the long run.