Please be seated. -Hello, Your Honor.
-Hello. This is the case of<i>
Johnson v. Johnson.</i> Thank you, Jerome.
Good day, everyone. [all] Good day. Mr. Johnson, you are here
with your wife, but you are positive
her new-born daughter, De'arie, is not your
biological child. You have petitioned this court
to grant you a paternity test, so you can get
your name removed from the birth certificate.
Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. Mrs. Johnson, you say that
despite your husband's fears, you are confident
he fathered your daughter, and you intend to
prove paternity today.
Is this correct? Yes, Your Honor. This court must decide
if there is sufficient evidence to grant a test. I wanna start with you,
Mr. Johnson. Why do you need
the test so bad? Because, I mean, I wanna...
I wanna be for sure. I take care of all my kids. My name is on
the birth certificate.
I don't wanna... I don't want the child
to have my last name
if it's really not mine. [Judge Lake]<i> And because</i>
you're married, you're on<i>
the birth certificate</i> <i> because the child was born
within the marriage.</i> [Demarrio] Of course.
Half of the time
I don't wanna be there. I don't wanna assist
with the child. I don't wanna do too much
as far as, uh,
fathering goes, because I mean,
I'm really not sure,
you know. I'm kinda uncomfortable, so... Majority of the time,
I'm just piling myself
up with work, staying on, you know. [Judge Lake] So you're
admittedly detaching yourself
from the home and the family. Yeah, 'cause I don't wanna
get hurt. You're so afraid that
the child is not yours. [Demarrio]<i> Of course.</i> [Judge Lake]<i> So, Ms. Johnson,
how is this affecting you?</i> <i>How is this affecting the home?</i> [Laquala] My family's
on the line. [voice breaking] Um... I'm sorry, it's emotional. You don't have to be sorry. Family and children are
the most important things
to us. Take a breath and go ahead. [Laquala sniffles] I feel like my kids
don't deserve this. My daughter don't.
She's only ten days old. Like... <i> She shouldn't have to be
the black sheep of the family.</i> [Demarrio]<i> I'm just trying
to protect myself.</i> [Judge Lake] Right. You know? I'm not trying to hurt anyone,
but I'm just trying to
protect myself. [Judge Lake] Right,
and in doing that, she feels you
separating from the family. So, we know that there is a lot
on the line here, am I correct? Correct. So, what happened?
How do we get here? How does a married couple
end up here before me in<i> Paternity Court?</i> Honestly, we, um, we always
had a rocky relationship. <i> Uh, ten years,</i> <i> separated numerous times,</i> mostly because of me, um... I was always in the streets,
this was like a normal thing
for me. Being in the streets,
being gone. You know, dealing with
other women. It was... It was always... I never really cared the way
I should, you know. After we lost our child,
I just didn't, like,
take heed to it. I just kept drillin'
and kept drillin' and just doing
what I wanted to do. I just never took
her feelings into
consideration. So, I mean... Honestly, I can say that
I played a big part in us being here today. -[Judge Lake] Okay.
-But... Uh, mostly...
All of it, because of him. So, I appreciate the honesty,
I'm gonna say that first off. I may not appreciate
the behavior, but I appreciate
the honesty. [audience members] Mm-hmm. When you mess everything up,
you gotta be man enough to say, "You know what, a lot of
the reason why we're here
is because of me." We may have to examine what
Mrs. Johnson did, because... Unfortunately,
we're in<i> Paternity Court,</i> so that's what
we're gonna have to do. But I like the fact
that as a man
you stood here and said, "I helped make this mess." Thank you. So, Ms. Johnson,
your husband's testified that a lot of the reason why
you got to this point
is because of him. <i> What happened?</i> [Laquala]<i> When we
first separated,</i> <i> it was just because
of infidelity.</i> Finding numbers in his phone,
finding pictures. Like, all types of stuff
just was happening
and it felt like... he didn't care. Like, I'd find it and for
that moment, he'd be like,
"Oh, I'm sorry," but then he'd go right back
to doing it. So, I mean, I... I left. A lot of it was, like,
business, like... -I'm an artist...
-That's what he claims. So, I deal with a lot...
I deal with a lot of women. [audience groans] But it don't have to be,
"Oh, you're beautiful. What you doing?
Meet me upstairs," you know. Stuff like that. That's not...
That's not it. At that moment...
At that moment, I felt
that's what was needed. I feel like it don't
take all that. It don't take all that. Well, this is actually
a really good moment. And a relationship lesson
that many have had to learn. Because a lot of people
work in businesses where they work predominantly
with the opposite sex. -Okay.
-And it's not easy. [audience members] Mm-hmm. Because what you tend to do
is cross that line. Because it's very easy
for that initial flirtation to turn into a lot more and destroy your family
and your home, which is
what it's doing. I mean, actually, sometimes,
it did turn into much more. Sometimes it did. [Judge Lake] Yup.
Oh, I know it did. That's why we...
That's why we feud a lot. That's why we always break up. So how long did
the separation last? -[Demarrio]<i> About a year.</i>
-[Laquala]<i> A year.</i> -[Judge Lake]<i> A year.</i>
-[Demarrio]<i> Yes.</i> [Judge Lake]<i> All right,
what happened?</i> Me losing my child, you know,
having a miscarriage. Um, I felt like
I did it by myself. Like, I went through the pain,
the crying, everything by myself. Like, he wasn't there. So, I felt like... Ain't no sense in me
being in the house. It was just,
like, for me... it was more or less... I didn't feel like a man
when I was around. She never addressed me enough
to make me feel like a man. -I feel like--
-'Cause he was addressing
too many other women. -I felt like a supporter.
-So, why should
I be there? Don't say you didn't
feel like a man,
'cause I always say, "If you a man,
you feel like a man." A woman can't make you feel or
not make you feel like a man. A man is a man. Now, I will say this. If you felt like you were
giving and giving and you weren't
getting reciprocity and that pulled you
out of the house, that happens in relationships
all the time, I get that. So you separate
for a whole year. What happens during
the separation? Well, during the separation,
I just was... Just doing her
and I was doing me. And we weren't planning
on getting back together. -And so, you were out dating.
-[Laquala] Dating, yeah. -And having sex.
-Yes. And you were with
multiple people, one person? Just one person. -With one person?
-Yes. -And so, Mr. Johnson...
-Yes. After a year apart, how do you
get back together? I don't know what type of
change of heart she had, she just wanted to come over. We cook, have family dinner,
family movie night, and one thing led to the next. I just saw how my kids
reacted to it, so, that's what made me
wanna go back. [Demarrio] Because I wasn't
home in a while. You saw how happy
your children were
to be with their dad and with you and this-- Yes. <i> -I understand that.</i>
-[audience]<i> Aw.</i> And so, how soon after
you reconnected did you find out
she was pregnant? Maybe about two weeks
or something like that. -After the reconciliation?
-After she came back, yeah. -And I was excited.
-I was scared. -'Cause I couldn't believe it.
-Because I know I had sex
with somebody else. So, he was excited -and you were scared?
-Yes. Because you did have sex
with someone else -during the time you were
broken up...
-We were separated. ...and thought you were never
getting back together again. -Right.
-So, Mr. Johnson, you said you were excited. How did you go
from excitement to doubt? Um... After the excitement,
uh, we celebrated. <i> We talked about it.</i> <i>You know, it was the best time
for me at that moment, like...</i> But... Here comes a week or so later, and she's like, "Um, I got
something to tell you." [Judge Lake] And what
did she say? She said, "It's possible." I said, "Just be honest.
Is it possible?" She was like,
"Yeah, it is possible that someone else
may have fathered." I just kinda, like, lost all--
Everything. Because all I asked
was a simple question and I just didn't get
that answer, so... It's kinda hard for me. [audience groans] So, you do admit, Ms. Johnson,
that you had unprotected sex with this other man. Yes, Your Honor. And then, when you reconciled
with your husband, you had unprotected sex
with him. Yes, Your Honor. Okay. I didn't know
who my baby's father was because I didn't know
when I got pregnant. Like what date
I got pregnant. And by me going back to him
so fast after being with
somebody else, it was... It was scary. Did you ever tell the other man
that he potentially could be
the father? [Laquala] Yes, Your Honor. What was his response? Well, in the beginning,
he was like,
"I'll be there." Like, "If she's mine,
I'll be there." But then, after she was born, I asked him to come
to<i> Paternity Court,</i> he said, "Um,
I must have a doubt," or I must feel like it's his,
and I was doing... Like, it was ridiculous
for him to come. So, let me ask you something. When did you two reconnect? Can you tell me specifically
when that was? -On June 20th.
-All right. I just want to do
a little calculating myself. I have a conception
calculator here. When was De'arie born? She was born on, uh,
10th of this month. All right, March 10th. So, if we put the birth date
of March 10th, 2019, and hit calculate, <i> it says the window of
conception would be</i> <i> June 15th through June 19th.</i> [Demarrio clears throat] [Judge Lake] Now, let me go
to the next page. So that would put
the date of intercourse <i> between June 12th
and June 18th.</i> Were you all
back together then? [Demarrio] That's why
I feel the way I feel. Like, no matter how
you dress it up-- And that's why you are asking
this court to grant this test. [both] Yes, Your Honor. Well, after hearing
the testimony presented
before me today, this court has determined that
there is sufficient evidence to order paternity testing
in this case. We will reconvene
after both of you
submit to DNA testing done by our laboratory. And I will have the results
for you then. In addition to that, because you all are married
and you have a family
with other children, I'm gonna send you off to
the laboratory, but first, I'm gonna send you
to talk to Dr. Jeff. Because I believe
it is important that you all begin
to do the work. You're still married. I don't want to see
this family destroyed. And I want you
to be prepared. Court is adjourned. Walk you both out together. And do you think you can accept
the fact that your wife
was with someone else? Well, I've kind of accepted it,
but it is still uncomfortable. One thing I would say
to the two of you, get yourselves ready
for this result. Court is back in session
in the case of<i>
Johnson v. Johnson.</i> In our earlier hearing, I found that there was
sufficient evidence
to order both of you to submit to DNA testing
at our laboratory. Since our last hearing,
what has gone through
your mind? No matter what the outcome is,
I just, kind of, I just wanna be able
to deal with it. That's all. How about you, Ms. Johnson? [Laquala] Well,
I've been nervous. Kind of scared. I just don't know what
to feel, like, to be honest. So, if your husband is not... De'arie's biological father, do you know
where the other father is? Yes, Your Honor. Has he expressed at all
his willingness to be
a part of De'arie's life? Just in the beginning. I haven't really
spoken to him throughout
my pregnancy or afterwards. [Judge Lake]<i> Okay.</i> Dr. Jeff, I'd like to ask you
because this is a very
difficult situation, and we have a family here. How do people prepare
themselves for news that
could devastate the fabric of their family? Well, I think
it's important for them, and we had spoken
about this, to look at some
of other challenges that they have not dealt with. You talked with them
a few days ago about the death
of their child. She had a miscarriage.
Mrs. Johnson had a miscarriage. And so, I followed up
on that cue and found out that Mr. Johnson
had not dealt with that
miscarriage. Instead, it almost
propelled him, if you will, into that separation
and acting out sexually. -He cried.
-[Judge Lake] Yes. And he started
working through it, and I think it will
deliver them in a place
just for you, Judge, where, whatever this result is,
I think, I hope, they'll be able to handle it. Well, I am here and I have
the results for you, but as you do with every family that walks out of this
courtroom with good
or bad results, however they perceive it, you're there for them
and you're gonna be there
for the Johnsons as well. -Absolutely.
-You are gonna meet
with them again. No matter
what the results are, he's going to work with you and he's going to help
give you the tools and help you identify the steps
you need to take to keep your family together. All right? Are you ready for the results? Yes. [Demarrio] Yes, Your Honor. Jerome, may I have
the envelope, please? These results were prepared
by DNA Diagnostics and they read as follows. In the case of<i>
Johnson v. Johnson...</i> When it comes to 12-day-old
De'arie Johnson, it has been determined
by this court, Mr. Johnson, you are the father. [Dr. Jeff] That's great.
They look so happy. So happy. [Laquala and Demarrio
talking indistinctly] [Dr. Jeff] Wow, wow. My nerves were shot, honey.
I was like, whoo! I'm so happy for you all. -Whoo!
-[Demarrio] Right? -Right?
-Right. Mr. Johnson, you have
one beautiful smile
I hadn't seen at all. [laughter] Been with you for two days,
I ain't seen it. I'm so happy, and you, too,
I ain't seen you smile either. [Demarrio sighs] -Well, what a relief it is.
-[Demarrio] Man. We got that truth. And you're blessed.
It's the truth you wanted. Yes. Yes. And so, now, how do we activate
that blessing even further? I think that's the question
of the day now. And I think we do that
with forgiveness, we do that by doing the work
Dr. Jeff talked about. So, I'm gonna send you back
with Dr. Jeff now. I'm so happy for you. [both] Thank you. I wish you the best.
Court is adjourned. Thank you, Dr. Jeff. [Dr. Jeff] Thank you.
