Tomorrow the fit Tarrant County father who has been separated from his thirteen year-old daughter for more than three years will be reunited with her. What some have called a “legal kidnapping” by a judge (who has done this before) who issued a temporary order to remove her from the father has been reversed after a 10-day trial. The temporary order was issued on the basis that he was an “international flight risk” with absolutely no evidence presented to support that allegation.
A jury of 12 of his peers listened to 10 days of evidence and denied the grandparents’ request to give them custody of the child. By a resounding vote of 11-1, the jury required that the young girl be returned to her father. Some of those jurors later asked how this tragedy could have happened.
What came out during the trial was that after the death of their daughter, the grandparents were told by their legal counsel that their case to gain custody of their granddaughter from her fit father was “very weak” but if they were willing to spend more money than the father they could prevail.
So began a campaign, recounted in the closing arguments of the trial, which resulted in the father selling his property and eventually declaring bankruptcy in his desperate attempt to keep and then regain his daughter. With no funds, he tried to represent himself for some time with negative results.
The Texas Home School Coalition took up his cause and has continued to raise support to pay his legal fees because of its mandate to defend and restore the fundamental constitutional right of parents to direct the care, control, and upbringing of their children. Indeed, if that right is thwarted, any parent is at risk of losing the right to homeschool if faced with well-funded non-parents who are willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and who can find a judge who is willing to disregard the law.
The grandparents’ attorneys asked for a hearing in a pre-trial motion to require the father to pay their legal fees because he chose a jury trial. Since the grandparents lost, it will be the father’s attorneys who will be asking for a hearing to request the court that the grandparents pay the father’s legal fees. This hearing will be before the same judge that facilitated this horrific miscarriage of justice, and he will make the decision to require that or not. We’ll be watching for that hearing and what he decides.
Last week a Texas jury sent a clear message that we will not stand by and allow non-parents and unrighteous judges to remove children from fit parents. God bless them, and God bless Texas!
About Tim Lambert
Why do I suspect the judge will NOT make the grandparents pay the legal fees?
Given that the grandparents argued a right to receive attorneys fees for themselves, it will be interesting to see what arguments they make to avoid imposition of such fees upon themselves. Their arguments should be turned around upon them. If the grandparents argue that there is no basis for imposition of fees, does that mean that the grandparents filed a bad faith motion?
I hope we get to see pictures of the reunion.
This is wonderful news!!! So happy for this father and his daughter. 3 yrs separated–what a miscarriage of justice that was. So thankful that the jury had the sense to do what was so obviously right. TIM–PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post a reminder of how we can send a check to THSC that is specific to help pay for this father's legal fees. If it were up to me, the grandparents who forced this father to declare bankruptcy to regain his child should have to pay for everything–including the property he sold. Since that will never happen, we'd like to help. I'm sure others would too. Please post specific info here and on your website and FB page. Thanks! Stacey and Will
Yes, and God Bless THSC, too!
Praise God for this answered prayer!!! May their reunion be sweet, and may the Lord return the years that the locusts have eaten!
Melinda
Here’s the nuts and bolts of “what can I do?”
First, understand there are 22 District Courts in Tarrant County: 7 of the 22 are Family Law Courts. In each of the 7 Family Law Courts there is one District Judge – i.e. the head honcho.
This latest outrage occurred in the 231ST District Court, which is staffed by District Judge Randy Catterton and Associate Judge Lisa Beebe. Judge Lisa Beebe presided in this case. I am convinced District Judge Randy Catterton is just as confused as his associate.
What is the difference in titles, District vs Associate, you may ask?
District Judges such as Randy Catterton are elected every 4 years. Randy Catterton was just re-elected in 2010. Unopposed. His term expires in 2014.
According to the Tarrant County Family Bar Association Website:
“The Associate Judge is appointed by unanimous vote of the Family Law District Judges and serves at the discretion of said judges”. I mentioned a moment ago there are 7 Family Law District Judges.
So what to do? If you are intent at expressing your outrage about Judge Lisa Bebee’s actions and perhaps fitness to serve in her present position, I suggest you go to the Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association Website – http://www.tcflba.com/Judges.htm – and there you will find THE list of all 7 Family Law District Judges and some contact information. I will be contacting all 7 District Judges by mail expressing my outrage at the actions of Judge Lisa Beebe and let the chips fall where they may.
I am so very glad to hear that this father will be able to bring his daughter home, finally! God bless the THSC for the excellent way they have taken up this worthy cause, and supported this father. Texas is so blessed, by having THSC as a resource.
Rebecca Smith
former resident of Arlington
Yes, a victory indeed! Thank God for a "cluefull" jury. I can't imagine what would of happened to this man if this case would of be heard in California or even Canada. We are losing our Liberties one-stupid-jury-at-a-time and one-bad-judge-at-a-time and it is nice to see what is right happen for a change. God Bless America, God Bless Texas!