>> Judge Judy: You wanted a
little break from your children,
and you dropped them off at
their grandmother's house.
>> Announcer: Mother-in-law says
a week was enough.
>> I was telling her to come and
pick up the kids, please.
"Please, can you come pick up
the kids?"
>> Judge Judy: And she didn't
answer.
>> That's right.
>> Announcer: But
daughter-in-law claims it was a
kidnapping.
>> I called the police, and when
the police came, she said that
my kids weren't there.
>> Judge Judy: Did you break
down her door?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Announcer: "Judge Judy."
You're welcome.
>> Judge Judy: Miss Pratt, you
and this gentleman have three
children together and are
currently in the process of
divorcing?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: That divorce has
been going on for how long?
>> Since 2012.
We're still waiting on him to
respond.
He was present in court.
The judge told him to respond,
and he still hasn't.
>> Judge Judy: Since 2012?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: What is wrong
with you?
>> [ Chuckling ] It's not true,
Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Stand up. No.
>> There's a docket number --
>> Judge Judy: Just...
>> [ Sighs ]
>> Judge Judy: Your
last name is?
>> Reese.
>> Judge Judy: You don't have to
stand so close to your mother.
>> [ Chuckles ]
>> Judge Judy: At your age.
[ Laughter ]
What's taken you seven years to
respond to plaintiff's divorce
papers?
>> Um...
>> Judge Judy: Don't make up
a story.
>> Not gonna make up a story.
>> Judge Judy: Just tell me
direct.
>> I petitioned for divorce in
2012, when I was in the
military, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: And she didn't
respond?
>> No, we had to close it,
because Texas didn't have
jurisdiction.
And when they found out that me
and the kids had been in
California for more than
90 days, him and Carol had to
cancel their claim, and he was
present.
And like if I said, if you pull
up the docket number...
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
>> ...you can see he was there.
>> Judge Judy: Shhhh.
How long has the current divorce
action been pending?
>> I filed for divorce again
in 2017?
>> Judge Judy: Okay, let's get
it done with!
>> That's what I'm trying to do
right now, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Perfect!
In the meantime, you have three
children together, and I assume
you had a reasonable -- three?
>> Out of the three, only two
are biologically his.
My daughter -- they just kind of
welcomed her 'cause -- Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Fine, so, you
have two biological children.
You can sit down now.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: And I assume that
you had a reasonable
relationship with his mother,
because you wanted a little
break from your three children,
and you dropped them off at
their grandmother's house,
according to you, a week.
>> Yes, she asked for them for a
couple of days.
>> Judge Judy: Just a sec.
You wanted a break?
>> No, I had an injury.
I fell off my minibike in April,
so I was off work for a while
and I was in physical therapy.
She knew that.
>> Judge Judy: No, no, don't
tell me what she knew.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Judge Judy: So, you were in
physical therapy, but you were
home.
You weren't in the hospital, or
you weren't in a rehab program.
>> No, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: And you wanted a
little break from your children.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, so, this is
what I'm gathering.
You dropped the children off at
their grandmother's.
Their grandmother contacted you
and said that she had a birthday
party to go to on Saturday.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: And it was a
family birthday party.
And at the birthday party on
Saturday, your mother-in-law
told you that her son may be
there.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: Not "uh-huh."
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: And what did you
say, initially, when your
mother-in-law told you that she
was taking the children on
Saturday -- because they were
gonna be with her -- to this
birthday party and their father
might be there?
Did you tell her it was okay?
>> I told her that I wasn't
sure, 'cause it had been a long
time.
I told her I would speak to my
advocate, and I would get back
to her.
I then sent her a message,
saying that it was fine, that
they could go...
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
>> ...'cause the children wanted
to see him.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Is that correct?
>> No, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
So, when she dropped the
children off, on a Thursday...
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: ...did you have a
conversation with her about the
party?
>> Yes, I had a conversation
with her.
I told her that my two
grandbabies was having a
birthday party, and I asked her
could they go.
She said, yes, they could go.
Then, she called me later on
that evening and said that her
lawyer said it wouldn't be in
the best interests to take
the kids.
And I was fine with that.
I was like, "Okay."
>> Judge Judy: What were you
going to do with the children?
>> I told her -- I said,
"Could you please pick them up
at 9:30..."
>> Judge Judy: On Saturday?
>> "...on Saturday, 'cause I
have to go to the birthday
party?"
But, the next day, she called me
and said, "Yes, you can take
them."
I said no, because I didn't want
to get in between her and
my son.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.