‘Its pointless defending against Violence Order’, claims Family Law Magistrate

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On October 22nd 2010 I happened to be in Family Court for a directions hearing for an Intervention order I was seeking against my ex-wife. Ahead of me was a young man, who couldn’t have been more than 21 years old. Just barely into adulthood, who was attempting to plead his innocence to an IVO his ex was seeking against him. What unfolded was staggering, and unethical. The magistrate asked his solicitor if he had tried to “encourage” this young man to accept an undertaking. His solicitor stated he had tried repeatedly to get the young man to agree, however, his client was insisting on his day in court.

He had no idea of his rights and allowed a biased magistrate to coerce him into something he didn’t want to do.

IVO applications, Magistrates, Family law, Discrimination against menThe magistrate then proceeded to “strongly encourage” the young man to forego his day in court. The young man stated, with a timid and fearful voice, “I am innocent and I want to prove it”. The magistrate then stated that he would achieve nothing by pursuing his day in court. At the very most he would get the IVO application against him dismissed (hello? This is what the young man was seeking to do).  He repeated several times to the young man that there was little to no value in attempting to defend himself.

The young man felt pressured, it showed on his face. The magistrates speaking pace increased and the young man could not even get a word in until the magistrate had finished his fourth round of encouragement.

The young man inevitably caved.

The magistrate then failed to bring to the young man’s attention that he could have noted on the undertaking that he was agreeing to it without any admission of guilt, or “with denial”.

There is no doubt in my mind, that this young man had no idea what was happening to him, why or even how to defend himself. He had no idea of his rights and allowed a biased magistrate to coerce him into something he didn’t want to do. Without the denial of guilt his ex now has an undertaking, for violence that may not have occurred at all. If this young man is indeed innocent, that is now irrelevant and he is now tainted.

Legal aid, duty solicitors and outreach programs are all heavily weighted to supporting women. Many men are victims of violence by women. It’s hard enough to get believed in the first place, but when that institution charged with upholding the rights of all human beings, regardless of gender, fails to do so, it’s clear men have a very long way to go to achieve equality and justice.

I got the outcome I wanted – which was an undertaking from my ex-wife without denial. I was probably one in a 1000 men who succeeded in sending a woman a very clear message – “you can’t abuse me and get away with it. I will not tolerate it”. I urge all separated and divorced men to take a stand. Nothing will change until you do.

Written by fathersdomatter – published exclusively on F4E on 4th November, 2010

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