You may be seated. Hello, Your Honor. Hello. This is the case
of <i> Austin v. Wallace.</i> Thank you, Jerome.
Good day, everyone. AUDIENCE: Good day. Ms. Austin, this is
your third time here
in our court room with Mr. Wallace
and Ms. Roberts. Previously, you were here
because Mr. Wallace questioned the paternity
of your other child, but now, you find yourself
in the same situation. Today, you say you need
to prove to Mr. Wallace that he is the father
of your nine month old son,
Ronnell, so that he can begin
to step up and be a father. Mr. Wallace, you claim you have multiple reasons
to doubt, when it comes to
whether or not you are the biological father
of this child and hope today
is your last visit
to this courtroom. Let's take a look
at what happened the last time
you all were here. I thought Ronyell
got himself together. In addition,
you have another child
with Ms. Austin. The kids, I love my kids
dearly, but I shouldn't
have got married. You just don't love
their mothers. WALLACE: Correct. JUDGE LAKE: When it comes
to baby Donyell Wallace, Mr. Wallace,
you are the father. He is the innocent baby.
Like, I have a father
in my life, so I don't want my kids
to grow up not having
a father in their life. She is a whore! JEROME: Hey, hey
listen to me. You're not going to address
a woman is this courtroom
that way. You better pipe yourself down! Get out of the courtroom,
Mr. Wallace. I never had anybody show me
how to treat a woman. Or to be a man or to
stay to help or... And that's why we're here. (AUDIENCE CLAPS) JUDGE LAKE: So last time,
you were standing on the
defendant's side
with Ronyell, Mr. Wallace, so now, Mr. Wallace,
you back
with Ms. Roberts? Yes, ma'am. But you're still going
back and forth
between the two women? Because she's pregnant now and the baby
could potentially be yours? Yes. (AUDIENCE GASPS) JUDGE LAKE: 'Cause let me
just say something, 'cause the last time I talked
to you on the phone, you know I called you one day, you had your kids,
you sounded so happy, you sound like you were
on the right track, you said you had your kids
and you all were
having a great day, and I have been talking
about you nonstop since then. When people ask me,
some of the cases
that mean the most to me, you're one of the people. And so I have to say,
before I even start today, I'm so mad
you all back up in here. So Ms. Austin,
I have to ask you, what has happened
since the last time
you all were here? Since the last time
we were here,
everything started out okay, but we all knew that
wasn't going to last long, Ronyell Wallace was still
bouncing back from me
and Kendralyn, I had enrolled in school,
but I never did go, because I had got pregnant
once again with Ronnell. And she got pregnant
with her baby, with her son, and as you can see now,
once again, I'm pregnant again with my third baby. JUDGE LAKE: First of all, I don't know if it's because
you're nervous, Ms. Austin, which, look,
I wouldn't blame you,
if you were, but it's not funny. I keep seeing a smirk
on your face. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDS) You know it's not funny. 'Cause it's sad
that I'm back here again. You're disgusted with yourself
that you're back here? AUSTIN:
Yeah, for the same reason. JUDGE LAKE: I can see behind
your eyes, the hurt. And the baby could
potentially be yours? WALLACE: Yes. (AUDIENCE GASPS) And the child
that we are dealing with in terms of
the paternity results today, is a second child you had
by Mr. Wallace? AUSTIN: Yeah. JUDGE LAKE: Named Ronnell? AUSTIN: Yeah. JUDGE LAKE: Nine months old? AUSTIN: Yeah. JUDGE LAKE: But you're
pregnant again? AUSTIN: Yes. All right,
so let me understand this. Obviously, Mr. Wallace has
been going back and forth
between you two women, and you two women
are still falling for it. Why is there a doubt then,
Mr. Wallace, as to whether or not
her child is your child, if you've been having babies
with both of these women, back and forth, all this time? Because she's
very promiscuous. When we were together, I had installed, it was like,
spyware on her phone, it's where
they would duplicate
her text messages and call log and send a copy to my email. And again,
for about the fifth,
sixth time, I caught her
texting different men. But where
your proof at? Are you saying
that didn't happen? Where your proof at?
I never saw it. And you believe
she's sleeping with these men? WALLACE: Yes. Ms. Austin, were you sleeping
with these men? No, lie-detector me please,
right now. You can't just be involved
with all these different men without doing... AUSTIN: Well, I'm not you. Just 'cause you lay down
with everybody who
you talk to, 'cause that's what you do. Me, you, and the Lord know
you're a slut. And that's why you... No, you're a slut. JUDGE LAKE: Hold on, hold on! You're a slut! You're a slut. JUDGE LAKE: Mr. Wallace. You remember from the last
time you were here. You're a slut! We are going to speak
to women respectfully
in the court room. You can express yourself... (AUDIENCE CLAPS) ...but do it respectfully. So you believe
she was sleeping around? If I'm that,
so why you keep on
sleeping with me? Why? Why? Why? Why? I'm pregnant
again! Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Easy access. Why? Why? You said that
about her, yeah. Why do you keep allowing me
to sleep with you? JUDGE LAKE: So, now... I'm gonna keep on,
just 'cause I know that you're
with her, she's allowing it. ROBERTS: I have nothing to do
with that. AUSTIN: Yes, you do. You want to sleep
with somebody else's man, then you got low self-esteem. AUSTIN: I'm not talking! JEROME:
Ladies! Ladies! (BANGING) Let's get some order.
Let's get some order. (WOMEN SCREAMING) (WOMEN SCREAMING) JUDGE LAKE: No,
get her Ronyell. JUDGE LAKE: Court is back
in session in the case
of <i> Austin v. Wallace.</i> Due to the exchange
that occurred between
Ms. Roberts and Ms. Austin, Ms. Roberts has been removed
from the court room. But we're here
because yet another child
is in the world and we're unsure if you are
their biological father. Ronnell, nine months old. Before we had to take
a recess, we were dealing
with the issues as it relates to the doubts
surrounding the paternity. You were outlining
that you felt like Ms. Austin
was sleeping around. WALLACE: Yes, ma'am. If you're talking
to other people while you're pregnant,
right after you're pregnant, of course, I'm going to have
doubts about the child. JUDGE LAKE: Right. Ms. Austin, are you admitting
that you also had
a relationship with somebody else
during the time? No, I wouldn't even call it
a relationship. It was just someone else
you were seeing? Yeah. Talking to.
'Cause I was hurt... JUDGE LAKE: Okay. WALLACE: But if you... ...by trying to get back
at Ronyell for the things
that he has done to me. And so, at the end of the day,
you all can see now, that two wrongs
never make a right. They make more wrong. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) Yes, ma'am. Right? 'Cause you were wrong
for going back and forth
between the two women, and then you were wrong
for being pregnant
and talking to other men and expecting him
to then believe your child is his child,
automatically. I still... And look, I don't want things
getting out of hand, and I know this is
an emotional thing
to talk about, Ms. Austin and Mr. Wallace. I don't understand
how you two fell apart. Because like she said,
she tried to get back at me for the things that I,
for the mistakes that I made. AUSTIN: No, actually Ronyell
left his apartment
and he moved with Kendralyn. JUDGE LAKE: Just out of the
blue, he woke up and said, "I'm gonna move
with Ms. Roberts, now?" I didn't just go with her. No. So what happened? You were being
promiscuous and I'm not going
to tolerate that. So, basically, Mr. Wallace,
you can sleep around
but your women can't? (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) I'm pregnant again!
Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Mr. Wallace, I see right now not much has changed
since the last time
we were here. I was hoping that it would. Another thing
that hasn't changed that there's another child
whose paternity is in question and you are a possible father. But you have doubt. Yes. Do you feel like the baby
has a resemblance to you
or your family, are you concerned about that? I feel like we have
certain features, but you can't just base it
all off looks. They have the same chin. JUDGE LAKE: Let me see that.
Is that evidence
you'd like to present? Yes. JUDGE LAKE: Okay. Walk me through
what these pieces
of evidence are. The first piece is... AUSTIN: The chin. AUSTIN: You see that chin.
Look at their feet. JUDGE LAKE: So you say
their feet are alike? AUSTIN: Yeah. JUDGE LAKE: But they don't
change your mind? WALLACE: No, ma'am.
It's just like you go to a police lineup, they put you in there
with six other men who look just like you... AUSTIN: And you get
picked out of it. And so he looks just like you. WALLACE: You can't just go
off looks. So, you feel
like these similarities
are not compelling enough? No, you can't
just go off looks. I'm going off her actions. You couldn't forgive her?
You all couldn't work
through this? Instead, you just went to stay
with Ms. Roberts? And abandoned me
and my children. Correct. That's false. The apartment
that I have now is because... I moved in
because of Ronyell. Because Ronyell left me
to go be with Ms. Roberts. He don't care. He is all about him. He doesn't care and I'm done.
Like, what more
can I put into this? WALLACE: That's false. AUSTIN: The apartment is
because he said he didn't want
to stay with the kids anymore. He wanted
us to be like a family. And I did what I had to do
to move into the apartment,
Your Honor. I do everything for him. I stood by his side
when he went out
of his apartment. He went through a lot. And I was there by his side.
Never left, never left
and I could have left, I could have walked away.
I have a family. Like, I could have walked away
but I didn't.
I stood by his side. And he left me.
He keeps leaving me. Every time, every day,
he leaves me. What more could I do? That's because
you always have other men. AUSTIN: No. AUSTIN: No. Mr. Wallace, do you hear her? She's... That's... She could sit here
and put on a show but... AUSTIN: No, no, that's not it. No, that's not a show.
Everybody knows that. If you stopped
having other men,
we wouldn't have this problem. AUSTIN: Everyone
knows that. He sits in my house,
texts Ms. Roberts. JUDGE LAKE: Ms. Austin,
for the life of me, I don't... I love this young man,
because I've invested
so much time in him, but I don't know
why you all want
to be with him so bad. (AUDIENCE CLAPS) JUDGE LAKE: So, while you're with Mr. Wallace, you're trying to have
this relationship, you've got one child together,
maybe three. I'm trying to understand
the extent of you feeling
like he left you. You say he's always
leaving you. Yes, every time I look up,
he's picking a reason
to leave. JUDGE LAKE: Explain that
to me. Like, not too
long ago, Ronyell left the house,
he left the house. He took... JUDGE LAKE: So, wait,
is he there living
or is he there visiting? AUSTIN: Yeah,
he was there living. JUDGE LAKE: Okay, go ahead. AUSTIN: But he
left my house. He leaves my house and goes
spends the night
at Kendralyn's house. (AUDIENCE GASPS) ...with his stuff
still being at my house until I took it
to his mom's house. And that's where
his stuff's been at,
ever since. He just came back to my house
not too long ago, because, no, like three days
ago, because him and
Kendralyn had a fight. When you just broke down
a moment ago, I really,
I felt for you, because I see
a young woman here that desperately is trying
to have a relationship
with somebody that... Doesn't want me. She's lying.
Everything she told you
was a lie. I don't even know
if he doesn't... It's not that
he don't want you, or he don't want Ms. Roberts, Mr. Wallace hasn't
grown enough where he can be in a position
to want anybody or to truly commit to anybody. (AUDIENCE CLAPS) And I think, ultimately, he's got to grow into the man
that he needs to become if that's ever
going to happen. But you two women
continuing to fight
and argue and get into altercations,
you're pregnant,
for goodness sake! Are you hoping that
it's determined today that Mr. Wallace
is Ronnell's father?
Is that what you're hoping? Yes. JUDGE LAKE: You are? Yes. And Mr. Wallace,
what are you hoping for today? I'm just... Look... Agitated. JUDGE LAKE: You
feel agitated? Yes. Tell me. Because of the
poor, crap performance
she put on. (AUDIENCE GASPS) WALLACE:
Look, well,
I need to walk out. You'll stay here
and finish it.
Come on. JUDGE LAKE: Ronyell,
don't walk out again. You can stand up here. Don't do...
Do not repeat the same mistake
as last time. Stand up here. (JEROME SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) Get your composure.
Get your composure. (INDISTINCT CHATTERING) WALLACE: I'll knock that... JUDGE LAKE: Stop it! WALLACE:...off your head. AUSTIN: No, you won't. JUDGE LAKE: Mr. Wallace! You sit up here, you're
taking her side! JUDGE LAKE: Come on! You ain't even letting me
get a word in. JUDGE LAKE: Stand up! Jerome, just give him
a minute.
Give him a minute. JEROME: Let's go over here
and sit down. JUDGE LAKE: God... JEROME: Listen. JUDGE LAKE: Ronyell,
don't walk out again. JUDGE LAKE: Mr. Wallace,
I'm glad you came back. What I was trying to tell you
before you left, is I don't want you to
make the same mistake again. When you were
just speaking to me, and you said,
"You're taking her side," I'm not going to let you
leave here thinking
I'm taking anybody's side. I'm asking the questions
that need to be asked. Now, we're going
to get you these results, because you came here
because you wanted to know. Right? WALLACE: Yes. Are you Ronnell's father? I have that for you
and I'm going to
give you those answers. And then, I'm going to
get you all some help. All right? (AUDIENCE CLAPS) The results. You want to take a seat
for a second. Sit down. Go ahead and stand up. These results were prepared
by DNA Diagnostics
and they read as follows. In the case of<i>
Austin v. Wallace,</i> pertaining to nine-month-old,
Ronnell Wallace, it has been determined
by this court, Mr. Wallace,
you are Ronnell's father. (AUDIENCE CLAPS) JUDGE LAKE: I want to get
you all some help. I have joining me today, via Skype, a gentleman by the name
of Mr. Wright. Now he's a
social worker in Chicago, your hometown,
based right there. Thank you so much
for joining us today. Can you tell us a little bit
about what you do? Well, I have a number
of social services, I have a number of resources that I want to
wrap these young people in, but are they willing
to accept my help? JUDGE LAKE: Good question. AUSTIN AND WALLACE: Yes. Yes. JUDGE LAKE: Yes. (AUDIENCE CLAPS) That's a wonderful thing,
thank you so much,
Mr. Wright, and I look forward
to hearing about the progress. We will be putting them
in touch with you,
immediately. All right. Thank you, sir. That's wonderful. (AUDIENCE CLAPS) I wish you young people
the very best. Go back, talk about this, talk to the counselor,
take advantage
of every resource. Remember, change
and consistency, all right? WALLACE: Yes. All right, I wish you
the very best of luck. Court is adjourned. (AUDIENCE CLAPS)
