Courtroom Observations: The Left, The Right, and The Game the Judge Is Really Playing
People think it matters which side of the courtroom you sit on.
Petitioner’s side (the right) = the “victims.”
Respondent’s side (the left) = the “villains.”
But after watching case after case, what I’ve learned is this: whether you’re on the left or the right, the judge is watching for who has their pieces in order.
The Two Boards the Judge Sees
It’s unpredictable. I’ve seen petitioners who absolutely deserved protection get dismissed. I’ve seen respondents who were messy in life but airtight in evidence walk away with the win.
Why? Because once you’re in front of the judge, two boards matter:
The Evidence Board – stacked documents, organized timelines, proof that tells a clean story.
The Emotional Board – your demeanor, composure, the way you carry yourself when questioned.
If your case is built on hearsay, the judge leans harder into the emotional board: who looks credible, who looks chaotic. If you’ve got receipts, the evidence carries the weight…but only if you can present it clearly.
The Evidence Gap No One Talks About
One thing that shocked me is how the system actually handles evidence. You don’t automatically turn in your proof when you file a request. That means the very thing that should anchor truth—the receipts—don’t even get considered until you’re physically in front of the judge.
Coming from someone who once filed evidence that would have absolutely upheld in court, only to be dismissed before a hearing was ever granted, I can tell you firsthand: the system doesn’t always wait for the truth to come out. Meanwhile, I had a temporary order granted against me based on the most outlandish lies; zero supporting proof, no evidence, just words on paper.
That’s the imbalance: airtight evidence can be tossed aside without review, while fabricated stories can trigger immediate, temporary wins. It all depends on who’s sitting at the bench and which board they decide to watch.
What I Saw in Just One Day
A woman who truly needed protection. You could feel her fear was real. But she wasn’t organized. Her papers were scattered, her story came out in pieces…and her case was dismissed.
A “spitting” case that wasn’t about safety at all, just eviction by another name. Theatrics carried it further than it deserved. Case dismissed.
A divorced woman still living with her ex. At first, it seemed odd, until her ex opened his mouth. Flat, rehearsed, robotic. Every answer screamed control. She came prepped with a sharp divorce attorney and walked out with the win.
And then there was mine. I didn’t do a thing wrong. My petitioner showed up, a disorganized mess, story full of holes. I didn’t even need to hand in my statement, the judge dismissed it outright.
Every case told the same story: it’s not about which chair you sit in. It’s about how your board looks when the judge leans in.
The Strategy Nobody Teaches
Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Petitioners aren’t always victims.
Respondents aren’t always villains.
And judges don’t reward drama, they reward clarity.
The system isn’t fair, and it isn’t predictable. But if you know what game is being played, you can stop begging for fairness and start preparing for checkmate.
My Advice After Watching It All
If you end up on the left-hand side (respondent), show up organized and steady. Don’t play into their narrative that you’re messy; prove the opposite.
If you’re on the right-hand side (petitioner), don’t rely on theatrics to carry you. Bring receipts. Bring clarity. Because the judge will cut through tears if there’s no evidence to back them.
Whether left or right, it all comes down to this: your story only holds weight if your pieces are in order.
And in that room, the judge is the only one who decides which board they’re watching.
♟️
