Court continues domestic matter, orders hair-follicle/nail-bed testing and sets December date

A domestic matter involving Mr. Brown was continued after counsel said the defendant had been traveling, lacked stable housing, and had mental-health and substance-use concerns. Counsel sought additional time to discuss a proposed resolution with his client, who the lawyer said was en route from out of state.

Judge David D. Wolfe said the court would continue the matter to a future chancery day and ordered both parties to submit to extended-panel hair-follicle (nail-bed) testing. The judge set a deadline for testing within the next 48 hours; because the hearing fell on a weekend, the court specified testing “by close of business, Monday” and later confirmed a deadline of Nov. 3 at 6 p.m.

The court scheduled the matter for December 3 and said that, in the interim, “both parties are gonna submit themselves to an extended panel hair follicle and have no evidence before me other than argument as to the fact that there's any drug use.” The judge added that the requirement applied equally to both parties.

Counsel and the court discussed multiple scheduling conflicts with other dockets and criminal trials; the court accommodated those conflicts when setting the new date. The judge also warned counsel to be prepared to present evidence or argument at the continued hearing.