the judge granted the MAXIMUM amount of protection from stalking & harrasment you can receive — five full years. I really did not have faith in the system after everything I’ve been through the last 30 days— but they undoubtedly showed up for me today. Memorable moments in court: -I had a moment where I was shaking & wanted to cry but reminded myself this was not the time. I can cry later. I needed to stand in my power and remain rational. - he did show up, via Microsoft teams, not in person. - he would not stop making noises during the other hearings before us. the judge had to mute him multiple times telling him if it happened again, she would kick him out of the courtroom. -we were second to last of about 8 other hearings so I had to wait many hours and watch other cases before mine (which I believe was to my benefit as I was able to study both the judges demeanors (there were two) and how they responded to certain arguments/statements). -when called to the stand, the judge had already reviewed my evidence at length. I was extremely prepared. He submitted no evidence, nor did he bring anything to trial. -He called the judge “dear” twice to which she reprimanded him & demanded that he respect her and call her by her title— “your honor or judge” 😮‍💨 - she said of all the hearings she has seen of late, this case was substantially & alarmingly scary and traumatic. - she asked if he had breached the emergency protective order at all & I provided her with the evidence of this (two essay long emails by him asking me to drop charges). -she scolded him & told him that was obstruction of justice and considered a crime. -His story didn’t make sense, he rambled a lot which frustrated the judge. He claimed that he knows I was “in fact the person he met back in May” but had no proof. He asked the judge to ask me a question and her response was “absolutely not.” - He would not stop talking when the judge asked him to so she hung up on him via Microsoft teams. I came prepared & calm & was lucky to have an amazing judge. I’m exhausted and yet I feel lighter at the same time. Today I finally felt heard, and not like another number in a system. I can finally start to heal and find some peace.