Baldwin Will Be a No-Show

31. "The source added that Ireland is "of paramount importance to him."

Unless for good reason the Court allowed his non - appearance this was a wrong move made or his testimony may be telephonic, which is permitted in some judicial systems.

If, in the event, the source is correct those of us knowing the family court system would know this to be true in relationship to that statement made:

If wanting to represent to the Court that your priority is the child you personally appear in Court no matter what else is going on within your life and you do not leave it to chance that your attorney will do for you what you want him or her to do.

Staying away shows a lack of interest and/or concern, overall, for what is occurring in the life of the child - 'my priorities come before my daughters' is not what AB should have shown to the Court.

With that said, if, in the event, having his lawful rights reinstated and contact allowed one would strongly suggest to AB that he is in Court himself to represent this not necessarily by words but by his presence.

His avoidance in Court, more than likely, is to avoid having to be questioned directly either by the opposing attorney and/or by the Judge him/herself!

Leave it all up to an attorney is a foolish move - your attorney works for you and in domestic violence and abuse cases attorneys often take over the role of the batterer within the Court - their egos also get in the way because the Court is their playground.

As KB said early on the tape will speak for itself because AB is too much of a coward today to appear in Court personally and answer questions directly.

In other words, his big mouth and stupidness can't get him into any more trouble today if staying out of the courtroom unless he angers the judge when not appearing.

Also, if he is accusing her of 'the leak' she is unable to face her accuser therefore, too, she is unable to question him in this regards, as well.

Posted at 1:13PM on May 4th 2007 by Marianne

32. Sounds like his daughter should learn a thing or two about respect and responsibilty. I'm a child of a divorce and it sounds like she's got a total grip on the classic game of "playing your parents against eachother" if she had plans to meet with her father or speak with him on the phone then she should be there, I mean obviously her father is fighting to have a relationship with her so why can't she respect that?

Posted at 1:09PM on May 4th 2007 by liz

33. I just think that Ireland, is old enough to ask if she is scarred of her Dad, or whether or not she wants anything to do with him! The Judge needs to ask her what she reallywants in her Judges Chambers away from Kim and Alec, and then see if this girl really wants anything to do with her Dad or not! Kim needs to keep her own opionions about Alec out of what is going on between him and his daughter! Half the problem is Kim is burnt and very anger over Alec, and she only wants total control over Ireland for her own selfish and insecure reasons...Alec might have been aggrevated at yelled at his daughter and yes even called her names! We don't know how spoilt this little girl is either or she takes her Dad for granted! When I was her age, I was rotten as well, and my Dad yelled at me alot, and he deserved too, both him and my mother called me names, because I actted horrible! But I can gurantee you that both were great parents, kids do push the bottons and Alec was probabaly at his witts end with her trying to talk to her! Kim and her camp are to blame for the World listening to that conversation! And she is just as guility!

Posted at 1:10PM on May 4th 2007 by A

34. "A separate hearing is scheduled for June 5 about the leaked tape. Baldwin's attorney, Vicki Greene, said in a court filing that the public disclosure of the tape violated a court order to keep the proceedings confidential".

She can claim anything she wants, having the sole burden of proof is an entirely different matter in proving the allegations/claims made to be true as stated in court documentation.

A party leaving a voice message for another person waives all rights towards privacy/confidentiality.

Court proceedings having to be held confidential in this matter may be a non issue.

If a voice message was left in one's own home when disclosed to the media irregardless of reason and the same was not then [at the time of being disclosed] part of a court proceeding, the disclosure to the media would not violate any court order issued.

TMZ would not be covered under the order of a domestic matter if receiving the tape prior to it being part of a court proceeding.

Timing is everything to prove contempt if in the event said court order exists at all.

I guess the above statement made by the attorney would explain [and be a defense used by KB] as to why Alec Baldwin has the right afforded him to disclose in HIS book specifics of the case and too, as to why he had the right to appear on national TV when talking about the same things he has accused KB of doing with regards to the phone message left for their daughter.

And too, when denigrating the mother as she did when calling her pathological [making a medical diagnosis absent a medical degree, no doubt] due to her allegedly not keeping her mouth shut the court cannot over look this - is her client Alec Baldwin, too, pathological when not keeping his mouth shut for example, sending out his family, as spokesmen e.g. on Larry King Live and/or when personally appearing on national TV?

Posted at 1:44PM on May 4th 2007 by Leigh

35. 1) Apparently there were about 12 visitation obstuction incidences which AB filed contempt of cour charges on.

2) As that dragged along he and his child had a great visit this past March, two weeks.

3) Returning back to Mom happy, Mom got angry that the child had a good time with Dad.

4) So she bad mouthed Dad directly/indirectly and cut off phone communication for about 10 days in a row.

5) Dad got angry about this....no one is helping....some of the obstcuction dates back about a year or so.

6) Courts seem flustered, baffled, confused, paralyzed, unwilling to hold a Mom responsible for her actions when Dad is affected, not to mention the child.

7) Yet at the drop of a hat with no evidence many men have their visitation revoked for long or even permanent periods by Mom. If you succeed in getting it back (you start guilty and have to prove that you are innocent) then since perjury is nearly never ever enforced Mom gets away with it and can keep doing it.

8) Reform is needed..family court is an extremely adversarial and financially/emotionally expensive place with a winner-take-all nature. Who has custody owns the other parent's access to their child essentially. It is not a place that solves problems. They create them by placing the noncustodial parent into ridiculous situations. Such as trying to raise your child 2-4 days a month and having to call them in restricted time periods as if you are a criminal in jail.

9) Look it up...every statistic shows that Dad make great parents and when a Dad is in a kid's life, every single factor bar none improves.

10) It is basically impossible to understand these situations unless you have been in them for years. Trust those who have. Even lawyers and judges that work in it daily don't get it.

For example in CA there is very high child support due to the local costs. Many custodial parents move to a cheaper state yet still receive the high child support so it is like getting a pay increase. The money can be spent on anything, shoes, nights out with the boy friend, cars. Oh you say that the custodial parent cannot move without cause since the other parent can challenge the move? Well it's rarely enforced. For example there are cases where the Mom moves because her boyfriend got a job in another state...selling cars. Well you can do that anywhere, that is not a reason to move. But things like that that make no sense affect mostly the Dad. It is not rare.

The Dad has his existing job and now has to change jobs maybe careers and move to a place of the Mom's choosing if he wants the most access to the child, 4 days a month. Only in the new state the Mom can require that state's courts get involved after a time period and then the Dad has to reestablish that he is the Dad, and wants to see the child. That can take months / years at times. And not everyone has the money.

In some cases for child support the Mom gets a free attorney while the Dad has to pay for their own?!?!

It goes on an on and that is just some routine stuff. It can get much worse.

Posted at 1:47PM on May 4th 2007 by Stan

36. I'm not surprised that Coward Alec didn't want to show up for the hearing. He's the biggest jerk. NOONE talks to their daughter like that, no matter what. I hope the judge orders him to go to anger management and I also hope that he doesn't get to see Ireland until she's at least 18 years old. He just wants custody so he doesn't have to pay child support. I know how these deadbeat dads are, believe me.

Posted at 1:51PM on May 4th 2007 by Judy

37. Folks..often it is not necessary to go to court personally as you go through the various steps. Some parts you do go in for, others it makes no real difference but can impress people unfamiliar with court and not affect anything at all. I don't know what happened today or is happening....but it could be that the lawyers show up in the building...try to find each other in the zoo of people. And then change something to a new date in a one sentence discussion, change status, can't find the other guy, etc. It is not handled in a business-like and organized fashion. Often you show up...wait in a crowd all day long and get told to come back in two months because some other stuff ran longer that day....meanwhile you owe one medium priced lawyer about 3000-5000 minimum because they were there even if just waiting. Or they simply file a brief form in the court clerk's office. Procedural paperwork type stuff like mailing a bill on time. Or if you do go in front of a judge it may be a different one who then decides to delay something. Or you have the same judge but they stubbed their toe and so called in sick. It's hard to say but I doubt this was scheduled for hours of testimony and that AB is hiding out in NYC. Not at all.

Posted at 2:04PM on May 4th 2007 by Stan

38. ---I'm not surprised that Coward Alec didn't want to show up for the hearing. He's the biggest jerk. NOONE talks to their daughter like that, no matter what. I hope the judge orders him to go to anger management and I also hope that he doesn't get to see Ireland until she's at least 18 years old. He just wants custody so he doesn't have to pay child support. I know how these deadbeat dads are, believe me.---

Judy you may have a higher opinion of family court than it deserves. It's more along the lines of the motor vehicle department than court as you see on TV. There is no jury sitting there to listen and come to a verdict on something. I've been in CT family courts for years trying to help my child with his Mom. When you first go to family court many people are shocked to see how bad it is and how and why decisions are made. It is probably totally irrelevant for AB to be there. It might be like needing to fly to DC to pay your taxes personally to the taxman.

Posted at 2:09PM on May 4th 2007 by stan

39. Besides screaming at Ireland, he threatened "to go out there" and what??? Beat her up, rape her, threatened her some more?? Alec is a nut-case and should not be allowed to have anything to do with his daughter until he can control his temper. Apparently he has always been a hot head so he probably doesn't want to change. What a poor excuse for a father. Kim, do what it takes to keep this psycho away from your child.

Posted at 2:22PM on May 4th 2007 by Pat

40. ----Besides screaming at Ireland, he threatened "to go out there" and what??? Beat her up, rape her, threatened her some more?? Alec is a nut-case and should not be allowed to have anything to do with his daughter until he can control his temper. Apparently he has always been a hot head so he probably doesn't want to change. What a poor excuse for a father. Kim, do what it takes to keep this psycho away from your child.----

A common comment from Mom's years ago used to be "Wait Till Your Father Gets Home". Somehow everyone survived!

Kids need the difference between Mom and Dad. It's good for them. Neither sex is "better" than the other, they are both wonderful. Dad's are more of the protecting, buck stops here type of role. That is part of how girls and boys learn responsibilty.

AB would not have lost his cool if he did not CARE about his child.

Posted at 2:34PM on May 4th 2007 by Stan

41. Boy, they're really coming out of the woodwork for this one. It must hit home for a lot of people. Thanks to Stan for taking the time to illuminate some of us on how it is.
I've sat on both sides of the fence on this one at various times, but feel now that neither is constructive. Out of all of this, I truly hope the two are able to forge a new way of co-parenting
that works, with Dr. Phil or without. This whole thing perhaps was a painful reality check for all involved. Ireland may indeed have learned to play the situation, but you know what? She's a kid, and probably a smart one, and pushing the envelope IS THEIR JOB. Healthy kids will naturally try to get as much for themselves as possible, because that's how survival works. They get a more balanced conscience as they get older, and can't be blamed for most of the juvenile stuff as they are not fully formed. Especially when they see the adults around them doing it as their example. It's a normal thing for them to do. Teens 'own' you for quite some time; you play along, and as they age, most develop into fine and empathetic human beings.

All of us suffer through our own reality checks. Alec and Kim on their own are both basically likeable human beings going through something painful publicly. Forces have been rallied and it bodes well for moving forward in a more positive way. Best wishes to them.

Posted at 3:06PM on May 4th 2007 by Regardless

42. Poor little Alec. It's all Kim's fault that he acts like an A--Hole. Alec, grow up you self-centered creep - that's about the nicest thing I can call him. I don't think he has all his brain cells working.

Posted at 2:51PM on May 4th 2007 by Crissy

43. A.B. has shown his true colors. This guys needs anger management classes. If he has issues with the Mom keeping him from his visitations then consult an Attorney. You surely have the money....

Posted at 3:17PM on May 4th 2007 by BB

44. I hope Ireland sticks it to both of them when she's older ... and changes her name to Switzerland.

Posted at 3:23PM on May 4th 2007 by SP

45. There is no way I would consider letting Alec see his daughter until I met with him face to face. He probably would cuss the judge out. I am amazed how all these liberal hypocrites treat him compared to how they would treat anyone else who is not a lib. If Mel Gibson had done this they would want him put in jail and never allowed to visit his child again. Alec does it and goes on the View and Rosie and her liberal pals fawn all over him. They understand his pain. I would hate to find out how they really treat their kids when no one is around.

Posted at 8:02PM on May 6th 2007 by stevei