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Judge pauses hearing and later terminates livestream in order-protection matter involving minor; temporary ex parte order expired
Summary
In a petition for an order of protection involving a minor, the court noted an ex parte temporary protection order had expired by statute, offered the petitioner a full hearing (with cross-examination risk), paused to allow the petitioner to consult law enforcement, and later terminated the public livestream before proceeding with testimony.
A Humphreys County judge told petitioner Katie Story that an ex parte temporary order of protection she had obtained had expired by operation of statute and gave her the option to pursue a new order at a full hearing. The judge warned that testimony in a protective-order hearing could be subject to cross-examination and could affect any pending criminal investigation.
The judge paused the in-court proceeding to give the petitioner time to consult with investigating officers and the district attorney's office. When the petitioner elected to proceed with a hearing that would involve allegations concerning a minor child, the judge terminated the public livestream and continued the matter in closed proceedings to protect the minor.
On the record, the court explained that an ex parte protection order lasts 15 days by statute unless extended through a hearing. The judge said the petitioner could either request a reset date to obtain a contested hearing or consult counsel and the officers before proceeding; the court noted that moving forward would entail taking testimony subject to cross-examination by the respondent's attorney.
The court directed parties to provide any available investigative reports to the file. The judge later returned to the bench, confirmed the petitioner had consulted with a detective, and explained the ex parte order had expired; he then proceeded with the hearing under a terminated livestream to protect the minor's privacy.
