My moron soon-to-be-ex-brother-in-law goes to court...

[MineralMan]

My wife's sister is filing for divorce from her husband. This did not meet with his approval, so he engaged in a bit of punch and slap with her. I attended the hearing about the Order for Protection she requested, acting as someone to stand between the two of them if needed.

A little background - this guy is an Alex Jones-listening, conspiracy-theorizing moron of the first water. I refuse to speak to him and have done that for several years now. When he's been at family gatherings, my only communication with him is the occasional withering look when he emits one of his obscenities.

Anyhow, the referee at the hearing, following the procedure, informed BIL of his three options:

1. He could contest the Order for Protection and return for another hearing on whether he should be criminally charged for spousal abuse.
2. He could accept the terms of the temporary Order for Protection, but challenge the findings regarding spousal abuse and return for another hearing where there would be witnesses.
3. He could accept the terms of the Order for Protection, but without any findings of fact with regard to the spousal abuse and the OFP would be immediately granted for a period of two years. The terms of the OFP were quite restrictive, including the surrender of his firearms and a bunch of other things.

She then asked him which he'd prefer. He responded, and I quote:

"I know how you people work. It doesn't matter which one I choose. I'm screwed whatever I do. You people are all the same. You're just out to get the little guy."

The referee's eyes got all large and stuff. She asked again. He finally agreed to the third option. She was not amused.

My soon-to-be-ex-BIL is an abject moron. We're all going over to the house, with a police escort on Friday to pretty much empty it out. He's so paranoid that nothing even has his name on it, from bank accounts to car titles. The OFP allows her to take anything that is under her name. WooHoo!

[jenw2]

1. And these are the type of people that have guns

Thankfully we have protective orders to counter them.

[MineralMan]

4. He does. He won't soon. The police were

going there to get them all today. My SIL gave them a list.

[HappyMe]

2. I'm glad this nightmare is almost over for her.

You're a good man to lend a hand with this.

[GentryDixon]

3. I hope she stays safe.

Hopefully he will honor the protective order.

[MineralMan]

5. If he doesn't, he goes to jail. Even a text message is a violation.

Like I said, the referee wasn't amused by his comment. She's in a safe place, now.

[GentryDixon]

7. Glad to hear she is safe from him. n/t

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

6. Good luck and hopefully she'll soon be rid of this guy....

He sounds like a real prize, ugh. Hope she gets all the stuff!!!

[kestrel91316]

8. She needs to get a gun and learn how to use it. He won't surrender his weapons. He

is the kind of person who will kill her for revenge and then either kill himself or do a suicide by cop.

She is in grave danger even with the protective order. PAPER DOES NOT KEEP WOMEN SAFE.