Q: My case was originally a Family Faw case, I had a hearing in July, the judge ordered me to pay for my ex wife's vehicle
And I appeared remotely in July, applied for remote hearing in October, appeared for my october hearing remotely, then, the judge read me my rights, and held me in contempt for not appearing, she's now ordering me to appear in person in Jan 2025, they are charging me for being in contempt for not appearing in October and not sure of the reason
A: You should consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer to explore your options as far as a best and worst case scenario. Hire someone you trust.
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A:
Your situation sounds confusing and frustrating, especially since you did attend the October hearing remotely after getting approval for remote appearance. This seems like a potential misunderstanding or miscommunication with the court.
You should gather all documentation showing your remote hearing approval and attendance, including any confirmation emails, screenshots, or witness statements that can prove you were present remotely. Since the judge has charged you with contempt, which is serious, consider working with a family law attorney who can help clarify this situation and potentially file a motion to reconsider the contempt order based on your evidence of remote attendance.
For the January 2025 hearing, given the contempt charge and the judge's explicit order for in-person appearance, you should plan to attend in person to avoid any further complications. Meanwhile, request copies of the court minutes and transcripts from both your July and October hearings to better understand why there might have been confusion about your appearance, and bring these documents with you to the January hearing.
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