It’s a thing. Only positive spoken here on this Friday!
I propose that today, Friday, August 5, 2016, be FaceBook Politics Free Friday. A day where we don’t hear about Gold Stars, Benghazi, Campaign Promises or Candidates and the only lies that are told is whether we look good in the attire we chose to wear that day. #FBPoliticsFreeFriday
Matthew Thompson
There is a lawyer cliché to never ask a question that you do not know the answer to.
Asking that question may get you a self-serving answer that you did not anticipate.It may open Pandora’s box of bad evidence and a tidal wave of otherwise inadmissible evidence. All because you asked a question you should not have asked.
In a custody case, the opposing counsel called the child to testify. This was a dispute between mom and dad and the other attorney wanted the child to testify about what she wanted, specifically where and with whom she wanted to live. However, opposing counsel did NOT know what the child was going to say, but instead assumed it would be favorable to his client. After the routine introductory questions, the child was specifically asked,”If you had a magic wand and you could wave it and live wherever you wanted, where would that be?” After a few seconds of silence the child responded, “ A castle!” Fatal to the case? No. But not the answer the lawyer was looking for and it further helped prove positions that we had taken throughout the case regarding the child’s emotional maturity, an issue we believed worked in our favor.
Of course, sometimes it’s a critical issue and you have to ask the question. Tread carefully.
Another question not ask; When are you due?
Matthew Thompon is a Child Custody attoreny in Mississippi and tries not to ask questions that he does not know the answer to.
Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at
(601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms
Unless your rights have been terminated by a Judicial proceeding, either via Termination and/or Adoption, you have rights.
MCA § 93-5-26 (click) provides that you, as a parent, have rights of access to records and information pertaining to your minor child(ren), including but not limited to medical, dental and school records and these shall NOT be denied to a parent because you are not the custodial parent.
Schools, doctors and dentists offices should take note of the above. Also, as a parent, you should be informed and have a copy of this statute with you when seeking this information if the other parent is not forthcoming.
Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at
(601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms
It’s all fun and games until somebody gets hurt.
I’m not talking about playing with your children. Too often I see adults playing games with the other parent’s time. It’s not a game. It’s not really even the other parent’s time. It’s the children’s.
It is also painful when the lawyer is playing games too. Advocating for your client is not making it as costly and long as possible. It’s not arguing over everything. It’s not agreeing to one thing and then doing another.
If this post sounds like you, it’s not too late to change. Be a decent parent. Be a decent lawyer. Be a decent human being. And if you are still going to play games, join a soccer team.
Matthew Thompson is a Family Lawyer and is mildly irritated by people sometimes.
(601)850-8000
I routinely advise to not burn bridges.
You never know when you may need the skills of others. And we know we can not navigate this world alone, successfully.
But sometimes you just have to burn that bridge. That person may be making choices in life that jeopardize your case, your children’s safety and your freedom. Burn that bridge.
Sometimes that person makes promise after promise. It’s what you need and want to hear, but they don’t follow through. You inquire, plead and implore, they dodge, make excuse and ignore. The bridge is burning.
Ultimately, life is about relationships. Evaluate your “friends” by how they treat you and those that can’t help themselves.
Sometimes you have to burn the bridge.
HB1523 is the law that never was. (Update: Or maybe it is)
Federal Judge Carlton Reeves issued an injunction preventing the law from taking effect, holding that it violated Constitutional protections provided by the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the Establishment Clause in the 1st Amendment.
As you will recall HB1523 was “needed” to protect mom and pop business from being sued and forced to close shop for refusing the right serve whomever they please. The only problem was there was not a single reported case of this occurring in Mississippi. A solution looking for a problem…for the one example you may recall occurring in the State of Oregon you may read my assessment here and the Commission’s findings here.
HB1523 also allowed a state employee whose job was to issue marriage licenses to refuse to do their job if they did not approve of your union based on their own religious beliefs or moral convictions. This aspect of the law was likewise found to be unconstitutional.
The Equal Protection Clause is part of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The clause provides that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction “the equal protection of the laws.”
HB1523 violated this aspect as it treated persons differently under the same law.
The Establishment Clause refers to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the establishment of religion.
HB1523 violated this aspect as it favored one religion over all others.
Prior blogs predicting HB1523’s demise may be perused here and here.
Matthew Thompson is an Adjunct Professor of Law at MC Law and a Family Law Attorney encouraging you to believe in your beliefs, but follow the law.
Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at
(601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms
It’s exhausting! We get it…
The constant bad-mouthing your ex is getting old. The overly dramatic posts on FB aren’t getting any likes. The permanent scowl you wear is wearing thin.
Stop.
(601) 850-8000 - - BowTieLawyer.MS 