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By Darin Codon Branson Missouri 

Judge Tony Williams greets me as I walk in the courtroom. The tone of the room changes, he smiles, “How are you Darin?”, asks the judge. “I’d be a whole lot better if my government started obeying the law”. I tell the judge.

Williams chuckles and points to the prosecutor. “It’s the legislature”, replies Williams. An attorney working for Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrill runs through a list of poor people who’ve defaulted on payday loans – easy money. Williams protests when I assert, “Only poor people go to jail”.

I have a case of government misbehaving and it’s costing the community access to a government body who is doing a great job laundering money and doing a poor job serving the people they represent. Furthermore, their illegal activities are taking food from my child’s mouth.

Generally, I give political leaders a chance to correct their mistakes. If they’re arrogant and continue to violate the law – that’s a different story – and the story of the body I’m preparing to file a motion regarding.

Thomas Paine argued “God hates Kings - government”. Paine uses Exodus to elaborate on his point. To shorten the story, When the Hebrews were liberated from Pharaoh it is written that God ordained a family line to serve the community as judges – no kings – no legislature – only judges – aka Levites. Modern Jews believe the messiah will have the last name of a Levitical line Cohen or Kohen – literal translation – high priest. For those interested in christian Genealogical Study see Matthew 1. For deeper theology, see Hebrews. According to the Bible – Torah – God told the Israelites, three times that Kings would only oppress them – but they would not listen. Paine argued “Society happens for the best and Government for the worst”. If today’s government read our forefather’s wisdom and looked into the mirror before legislating and said, “What I do today is necessary evil – I’m a necessary evil”, we’d have a lot less laws and a much more free society.

“You’ll have to take it up to the Circuit Judge”, says Williams, “and Darin, I don’t want to do it, but I’ll fulfill my responsibilities as a judge”.

“I wouldn’t ask anymore of you, your honor”, I reply.

My heart is warmed by this assertion. That’s the warrior spirit, he doesn’t want to find himself in a politically awkward or contrarian position but he’ll fulfill his obligation to the constitution and community he’s swore oath to.

I have to be careful – run my mouth and he’ll throw me in jail quicker than I can say I’m sorry. I’m usually the only reporter in the courtroom and have had difficulty implementing Supreme court guidelines for cameras in the courtroom. In addition, my requests to hold religious services for the prisoners have been denied. Some politicians believe they’re greater than God.

Over the past seven years I found myself twice a “guest” of the 38^th Circuit. Contrary to false reports, both were for contempt of court.

The first was a failure to appear. Having crashed my car covering a story for radio station KRZK, I wasn’t able to make it to a requested appearance. I was detained before the christian County Prosecutor dismissed the charges. The original charge was for not paying child support directly to the state – the case was dismissed - deleted – cleared - the only record of it posted here.

The second time I was detained, I popped off to a christian County Judge. I wrote a post that irritated him beforehand and when I appeared three days before a scheduled appearance to reschedule. In open court the judge threatened me - a blow he promised would ruin my career, “No prison could be quite as bad as having my child repeated kidnapped without anything being done about it”. Again, I was broken. My child was kidnapped for several weeks to avoid a transfer for Christmas vacation. In five years, the 50-50 holiday split decreed by Judge Jim Justus has never been honored.
The appearance was made because I was heading to the Iowa Caucuses as a technical lead on a journalism project. The project lead negotiated with the irritated judge - $1,500 bail – 3 hours in detained before the money was handed over. The money should be returned later this month due to the fact the project lead was busy working overseas for CNN during the summer months. A certified letter wasn’t good enough.

One thing I know for sure – kidnappings over legal holidays are a constant – to this day I’ve spent but one with my child.

I’ve quit celebrating holidays – broken.

I spend it calling with no answer – worrying – afraid – broken.

Due to varrying enforcement practices - kidnapping in some counties is legal but calling too many times when my daughter is missing can lead to charges being filed.

For those of you paying attention, my daughter has been the victim of parental kidnapping multiple times. When she’s missing I can’t sleep, eat – can barely think. Paying cash has been the only way I’ve ever been able to see my child. Due to administration issues, I can’t send money through the normal channels – money orders mailed to Jefferson City never sent to help my child.

To avoid this result - last court date I had I walked 12 miles to see the judge. Taking advantage of the hike hundreds of pictures were posted on a Branson Edge Photojournal.

A good name for family law sophists - Baby Brokers , if the legal community admitted that children are bought and sold through the family law system – we’d have cleaner negotiations in family court. In my case if I protest or try to institute parental authority as outlined in my “joint custody” decreed parenting plan – my child is kidnapped again. Though it’s a felony – some laws are enforced while other’s aren’t. The documented result of “biological fatherlessness” is higher suicide rates, drug use and teenage pregnancy. Perhaps, this doesn’t matter to politicians - after all - children don’t vote.

Missouri Taxpayers will spend $628,000,000 this yearin its prison industrial complex Sadly, the more time one serves in prison, the more likely the person will return – as a corrections system we’re a documented failure some are trying to improve.

Williams says a man has only three things, - two are a man’s name and a man’s word. My child has been registered under fake names to block enforcement of the 38^th Circuit Court issued custody order and an attempt is being made to forever take my daughter’s name. Call it insanity, but, addressing issues affecting society – cleaning up corruption – at times seems the only hope for a child who I think about, love and fear for daily. When she’s kidnapped, I ‘m in a deep sorrow – aching hearted – a pain I wish on no man - broken. If it were legal to buy her rightful court ordered name – I’d pay.

He’ll do his duty…

“I wouldn’t ask anymore of you”. your honor.

It’s his court and he has no problem humbling me from the bench. He’ll throw me in jail without blinking should I disrespect the bench. Of course, the judge knows I’ll willingly go to jail if it could buy me the knowledge I need to produce a good story. Once, when a murderer was in the Taney County Jail - Williams offered me a guilty plea on a traffic ticket. “You sure you want to plea innocent, asked Williams after the ticket was dismissed. “A couple hours shock time might do me some good” , I replied.

Williams turns the table. There is a major issue with a local politician and Williams wants to know why I’m not on top of it. “I wasn’t aware your honor, I’ll look into it right away.” By the time I fully research the issue, it’s already been addressed publicly. Williams continually reminds me of the importance of journalism - to be courageous – to speak the truth – to keep the community informed.

“Your honor,” I querry,

“Yes”, replies the judge

“The more I study politicians the more respect I have for prisoners detained by the court.”

“You mean kinder more decent people ?”, begs Williams.

“Yessir.”, I retort.

“Hmm”, ponders Williams with a grunt.