On January 13, 2023, I won my third trial – a dismissal of the Department of Human Services (CPS) case to terminate my parental rights. I planned to pick my daughters up from the school the next week. However, their mother refused to allow our three little girls to return to my home, despite saying she would comply with any Order of the Court allowing them to do so. I filed an emergency motion for custody interference and contempt of court. At the emergency hearing later that month, Referee Hutchison requested an expedited trial. Both parties agreed to a two-day Custody Trial. The first day occurred on March 3, 2023. The Court scheduled the second and final day for March 31, 2023.

To our surprise, on the morning of the 31st, opposing counsel informed the Court that they had not prepared any of their witnesses to testify that day. Instead, they asked the Court to schedule an additional day of testimony. Ms. Anderson took the stand and presented her case for the majority of the day.

I had already asked my expert witness to travel from Michigan to testify. Due to a snow storm moving through the area, his flight was delayed. He arrived with just enough time to complete voir dire. This process allows the Court to examine a witness, and, in this case, determine whether he may testify as an expert. Opposing counsel wanted to scrutinize every item on his lengthy curriculum vitae (résumé) in an effort to disqualify him. After 35 minutes, the referee asked for a summary argument as to why the Court should disqualify him. Referee Hutchison concluded that he had enough time to examine the witness’ credentials and hear his testimony. Given the fact that he has been qualified as an expert and testified in hundreds of cases around the country, Referee Hutchison deemed him an expert and ruled he will testify in this case.

The Court scheduled the final day of trial for April 27, 2023. I have now gone seventeen months without having spent a single day with my daughters. Despite winning three trials vindicating me of any wrongdoing, the Court continues to treat me as a criminal. My daughters must suffer the ill effects of this injustice, forced to visit me for ninety minutes once a week in a supervised parenting clinic.

Please pray for the truth to reign and for my daughters to return home safely. “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly” (Luke 18:7-8).