The provisional court order from Judge
Mangum, as drafted by Mr. Mills' attorney, is an astonishing indictment against justice. The judge's personal agenda can clearly be seen to override the facts. What you'll see here is not a judge dispensing fair and balanced decisions in the best interests of children and parents, but a judge playing at marriage counsellor and dispensing emotional torture to an acknowledged "good" mother and homeschooler.
The following information contains direct quotes from the provisional court order:
"The children have thrived in homeschool for the past four years, but need the broader focus and socialization available to them in public school."
Completely contrary to the evidence that the Mills' children are well-balanced, socially aware, and excelling in education - even as admitted by the judge - somehow it is in their interests to be pulled out of homeschooling and thrown into public school. This is typical liberal prejudice and ignorance towards homeschooling.
Is the judge even aware of the state of our public schools? Yet he wants to take them out of an environment where they are "thriving" and deliberately expose them to "broader focus" and "socialization."
"Defendant (Mr. Mills) believes that plaintiff (Venessa Mills) is a good mother. Defendant believes that plaintiff is a nurturing mother who loves the children. Defendant believes that plaintiff has done a good job with the homeschooling of the children."
Even Mr. Mills admits that his wife is a good mother and has "done a good job" with homeschooling. Two of the children are already two grades ahead of their normal level. Yet Judge Mangum's response is to order a mental health evaluation of Venessa Mills and order the children to be sent to public school.
"The Court declines to include plaintiff's claimed costs for homeschooling as an extraordinary expense."
Not only does Venessa Mills have to pay her own homeschooling costs, but she is actually penalized for them by having them ignored in her child support calculations.
"The parties need to learn to co-parent the children."
Judge Mangums's method of encouraging both parents to "learn" this is to deny the mother's right to continue homeschooling, deny her adequate financial support, impose the most disruptive custody schedule. Mr. Mills requests, on the other hand, are almost universally granted. This is a strange definition of "co-parent."
"Defendant has committed adultery with [name excluded]. Defendant also has spent some times with [name excluded] when he could have been spending times with the children. Defendant has not had model behavior in this regard."
So, Mr. Mills commits adultery, spends time with his mistress when he could have been spending time with his children, and yet Judge Mangum apparently finds him to be worthy of receiving equal custody of the children, granting his request that the children be put in public school, giving him every financial leniency, and taking no action to remove him from the family home. The only censure in the entire document is, "Defendant has not had model behavior in this regard." Does this make any sense apart from the judge's personal agenda?? No way.
"Each party is a fit and proper parent to have temporary legal and physical custody of the minor children."
Except that Mr. Mills admitted to committing adultery, which directly detracted from his time with his children. But, despite these facts, Judge Mangum ordered a mental health evaluation on Venessa Mills - not her husband.
"It would be a benefit to the Court for plaintiff (Venessa Mills) to have a mental health assessment."
But Mr. Mills states that his wife is a good mother, devoted to her children, and has done a great job of homschooling. She is not guilty of any marital unfaithfulness whatsoever. Yet Judge Mangum orders a mental health assessment of her - and not her husband. Why? Because she has strong conservative Christian values? Because she believes that homeschooling is in the best interest of her children? Is being a Christian homeschooler now grounds for questioning someone's mental health??
The truth is that Mr. Mills and his attorney both know that there is no mental health issue. Both could have spoken up at any time to put a stop to this. However, their motivation was much more sinister - to divert attention from Mr. Mills infidelity by slandering Venessa Mills and her religious beliefs. Mr. Mills and his attorney even stooped as low as to make accusations of "brainwashing" and deliberately use slander, hearsay, and gossip directed at Venessa Mills' church.
Whether you agree with Venessa Mills' Christian beliefs or not, this is a slippery slope - liberal judges pandering to slander and ordering mental health assessments against a good mother with conservative Christian beliefs.
"It is clear that the parties never mutually agreed to the homeschooling of the children."
This is a total lie. The children have been homeschooled for four years, and Mr. Mills has complemented his wife - even on the court record - of doing a good job. Their three children are either at normal grade level, or considerably advanced, and - according to the court - have "thrived." The idea that there was never any mutual agreement for the homeschooling of the children is ridiculous! Mr. Mills clearly agreed and co-operated as long as it suited him, and is only pressing the issue now to cover up his own infidelities and failings as a father - as previously noted by the court.
"The Court finds that each party has the ability to pay one-half of the cost of " both the custody evaluation and mental health evaluation.
Venessa Mills, despite being a stay-at-home mom with no outside income, is being forced to pay for half of her own mental health assessment and half of the custody evaluation. The Court found that she had "insufficient means to defray the expenses" of her child support claim - so how does Judge Mangum get the idea that she can afford to pay for costly evaluations?
"The children's best interests will be served by enrolling in and attending public school"
This is completely contrary to all the evidence provided, and even contrary to the facts as contained in the same document. The only basis for this decision is a clear prejudice against homeschooling by Judge Mangum, and a clear bias towards Mr. Mills' requests.
"Defendant is employed full-time at [name excluded] where he earns gross earnings of $4,700 every two weeks."
- That's $9,400 per month.
- That's $122,200 per year.
"Plaintiff is not employed outside the home."
- That's $0.00 per month.
- That's $0.00 per year.
"The Court finds that child support as calculated under Worksheet B ... is appropriate in this matter."
This is the lowest amount of Child Support that could have been awarded. Naturally, as requested by Mr. Mills, in total contradiction to all evidence.
"Defendant shall pay monthly child support in the amount of $1,383.75 to plaintiff."
This is only $300 more than the mortgage payment on Venessa Mills' home. The judge expects her to continue homeschooling until the end of the school year, survive with three children on $300 a month, and/or somehow find a job that enables her to homeschool and only work nights every other week to accomodate the custody schedule! Not only is this completely disruptive to the children, but Judge Mangum is setting Venessa Mills up in an impossible situation - and then ordering a mental health and custody evaluation! The judge may call this justice - I call it blatant abuse.
"In the event that plaintiff fails to make the monthly mortgage payment on the marital residence, defendant may pay the monthly mortgage amount in partial satisfaction of his monthly child support obligation."
Unbelievable! Mr. Mills is trying to set things up so that if his wife chooses to buy food for her children instead of paying the mortgage, he can personally make the payment and impose the deduction from her child support! Mr. Mills wants to leave his wife with $300 per month and an impossible schedule, while he protects his own credit rating and continues to take home more than $5,000 per month.
And if Venessa Mills does not agree to all of these terms and orders, Mr. Mills is under no compulsion to leave the marital home until Judge Mangum rubber-stamps all of his requests.
This court order represents a travesty of justice in every sense of the word, perpetrated by Judge Mangum, Mr. Mills, and his attorney.
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