Julie Boyd Cole

Dear Family Court Judge Julie Boyd Cole

Dear Family Court Judge, We, the victims of domestic abuse have something to tell you about family court. Our abusers have been using the family court system, and frankly, you, as a method to abuse us. We really need you to read our words. We are children of abuse, who have been subjects of contested custody cases, and we are intimate partners, who are forced to co-parent with our abusers, our rapists, our tormentors. Some of us have lost custody of our children because our abusers manipulated the system. Some of us are mourning the death of our troubled children, who could not find help out of their abusive parents' web. Some of us are trying to manage every day the chaos of family abuse. We need your help. Please read our stories and comments collected in this work. We would have told you directly, during our day in family court, but as you know, too many of us never got the chance. Too many of us had just a few minutes in court. Too many of you didn't ask about the abuse. Too many of you have decided that domestic abuse is not relevant in custody cases, or believed that we were lying, or thought our abusers could be changed by your court order. Please read our words within these pages. Please give this short book some of your time. Our lives may not change if you do, but the lives of children in the future may be saved from this painful dynamic. We speak for them. We have faith in you, Your Honor. We know that you care. We are hoping you will help end this form of domestic abuse. Children are depending on you. Sincerely, More than 200 victims of abuse