Please be seated.
Hello, Your Honor.
Hello.
This is the case of Morris v. Brister.
Thank you, Jerome. Good day. everyone.
AUDIENCE: Good day.
Mr. Morris, you say you are 100 percent certain,
that you are the biological father
of the 29-year old woman, standing across the aisle,
and want this court to put an end to years of confusion,
lies and doubt. Is that correct?
Yes, Your Honor.
JUDGE LAKE: Mrs. Brister, you say,
you don't believe, Mr. Morris is your father,
and that you've been lied to, by your mother Ms. Smith,
regarding who is your biological father.
Is that correct?
Yes, Your Honor.
Ms. Smith, you are here to support Mr. Morris's claim
that he is your daughter's biological father,
and you pray today's results will heal old wounds.
Is that correct?
Yes, ma'am.
JUDGE LAKE: Mr. Morris, I wanna start with you.
What makes you so certain that Ms. Brister
is indeed your biological daughter?
Well, ma'am. I just feel 100 percent in my heart
that she is my child.
Take me back. I wanna understand the nature,
how this relationship began.
Were you boyfriend and girlfriend?
What was it? Mr. Morris, explain to the court
I met Ms. Smith in 1984.
At the time, I was involved with a break-dancing crew.
When I met Ms. Smith...
This one evening, as we were performing,
I knew right then, I wanted to be with her.
One thing led to another, and, yeah, I pooled her.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHS)
Me & Ms. Smith,
we did get together.
Okay, did you dance on over there?
What did you do?
Well, it actually didn't happen
until the following evening.
'Cause I had to get my cousin out of the way,
'cause I was shy.
Three was company then?
Yes, ma'am.
Understood. All right. So, y'all started a relationship?
Yes, ma'am.
How long did the relationship last?
About three and a half years.
Three and a half years?
Yes, about.
Was it a committed relationship?
Well, ma'am. I thought it was, in the beginning.
Yes, it was.
It was. It's just, I had to go through
a lot of turmoil, in order to be with her,
because she was a queen.
Because she?
She was a queen.
Okay.
And, there was a lot of different guys,
at her.
And so, I mean, it was fight after fight
with different people in the town,
that I didn't know nothing about.
And...
So, was she with a lot of other people,
or just a lot of, she had a lot of suitors?
A lot of suitors, I would say.
Because, at the time I was with her,
it was just me and her.
So, Ms. Smith,
what do you recall about this relationship?
SMITH: We had a good relationship.
Different guys wanted to be with me,
but I wanted to be with him.
(AUDIENCE EXCLAIMS SOFTLY)
And so, what is the status
of your relationship, right now?
Well, we are back together.
JUDGE LAKE: You are?
Yes
SMITH: We're a couple.
JUDGE LAKE: After how many years?
Fourteen years, to be precise.
JUDGE LAKE: Fourteen years?
Yes.
And now, you're back together?
BOTH: Yes.
But, there's still this paternity issue, hanging in the balance.
SMITH: Yes.
Why?
You say, you were only with her.
She said, she was only with you.
I came back to town, after hearing it from
three different individuals, that she was pregnant with my child at the time,
and we stayed in two different towns.
So when I found out, when I heard it,
more than once, more than twice I would say,
I left where I was, to go to her town,
to talk to Ms. Smith, to try to, get this resolved.
Was she pregnant at this time, or had the baby been born?
No, Lajeania was already born.
But at the time, when I talked to her,
the two days I was in town, to see Ms. Smith,
we had an issue, and she told me
to my face that, none of her children were mine.
So, I left.
So, how old was Ms. Brister, at this time?
I would say, she had to be five, maybe five or six.
JUDGE LAKE: So, Ms. Smith, you remember telling him that
Ms. Brister was not his child?
Yes.
Why did you tell him that, if today you're saying, you believe she is?
He was trying to get back with me,
and I didn't want to get back with him.
Ms. Brister, who were you told
is your biological father, as a child?
The man, who's on my birth certificate.
He was... I've always known him to be my father.
And at what point did you realize that
there is a possibility he wasn't your biological father?
I remember as a child, my mom taking me
to get a DNA test.
And, I didn't remember the results at that time,
but I do have a faint memory of her saying that he wasn't
my father.
You brought an exhibit for the court?
BRISTER: Yes, ma'am.
I'd like to see it, please.
This is just a timeline of some of the things that she's
told me, over the years.
I've always known the man on my birth certificate to be my father.
When I was about 16,
Mr. Morris, he came to visit,
and he introduced himself as my dad.
I don't remember the entire conversation that we had,
but I do remember
him saying that he was my dad.
He came, he was there, for like a week or so.
Then he left.
So he comes into town, he says, "I'm your father".
He stays a week, and then he leaves.
Mmm-hmm.
Yes, yes, Your Honor.
Um, my mother,
she didn't really speak of him
after that, and it kind of went back...
Excuse me, Your Honor. I was in town, for almost six months.
But were you a father to her?
Yes, I was active in her life at that time,
but she didn't live with us.
BRISTER: I... I...
JUDGE LAKE: All right.
The last point on your board, of your exhibit.
Yes, like I was saying, it went back to normal
for me that the man who's on my birth certificate
was my father. And a couple of months ago,
my mom, she told me that
Mr. Woods, a guy who is deceased,
that he could possibly be my father.
So, let me understand this. The bottom line is,
as a young woman, you've been told different stories.
Yes, Your Honor.
So, you have one man on your birth certificate.
Yes, Your Honor.
Next thing you know, it changes to Mr. Morris
comes to visit, and he introduces
himself to you as "I'm your dad."
Yes, Your Honor.
So, now you're saying, "What's going on here?"
Then, one week later, Mr. Morris leaves,
this is in your mind.
Yes, Your Honor.
And then, your mom says to you,
"No, the other man is your father."
Yes, Your Honor.
That's how I remember.
And then in 2015, your mother tells you that,
a deceased man, Mr. Woods, could be your father.
Yes. Yes, Your Honor.
You may step back over to the podium, ma'am.
All right.
This is confusing. It really is.
It's very confusing for me.
And I can see, how much that hurts you.
It's hurtful. It's confusing.
You know, because I wanna know.
JUDGE LAKE: Okay.
I feel like I need to know,
for many different reasons.
Ms. Smith, I need to ask you. I think it would even help
your daughter more, to understand why...
Why so many stories?
I just didn't wanna hurt... (STAMMERS)
(SOBS) I just didn't wanna hurt her.
I was trying to protect her. Just trying to protect her.
Is it because you knew that more than one man
could potentially be her father?
Or is it because you believe Mr. Morris
was her biological father, and he was living such a life
outside the lines?
Yeah.
JUDGE LAKE: Which one?
The way he was living. (SNIFFS)
(STUTTERING) I wasn't trying to hurt you.
I was more trying to protect you.
JUDGE LAKE: How old were you when this happened?
This started when you were how old?
This started when I was, I think, around like eight, nine,
maybe 10, when I was told, when I remember.
When you remember?
Her saying that
the man on my birth certificate wasn't my father.
So Mr. Morris, as you look at Ms. Brister testify,
and you hear her testimony,
how does that make you feel?
You've maintained that you thought you were her
biological father all along.
She's got four stories she just presented to the court.
See, I never knew anything about those
other probabilities.
So, I need to ask you, what makes you so certain
that she is your biological daughter?
MORRIS: When I was incarcerated,
there were sheriffs, sheriff deputies there,
from the town where she was living at,
which I didn't know nothing about.
They presented me with paperwork saying that
I would be sued by Internal Revenue, for child support.
I had the papers looked at, by a law clerk, and...
So, the bottom line is, while you were away...
Yeah.
...you were served.
Yeah.
You received the paperwork
indicating that you owe child-support.
Yes.
Now, Ms. Smith, had you given Mr. Morris's name?
'Cause how would they get his name?
How would they even know?
Had you ever had a DNA test?
MORRIS: Yes.
JUDGE LAKE: You did?
Yes.
Did you have a DNA test with Ms. Brister?
Yes.
He didn't... I don't remember that.
But, if you've known that I was your daughter,
it's kinda like, why didn't you reach out?
Because...
Why didn't your family reach out?
Because, I was trying to...
Nobody, nobody said anything,
in all these years. So now
that I am about to be 30,
you know, and here it is you're saying,
you're 100 percent sure,
but I haven't seen that.
You haven't been a part of my life at all.
You're right.
Or your family's.
So, if you knew
then why not reach out? Why not your family reach out?
I can only speak for myself. I know, when I wanted to be in your life, Lajeania,
I couldn't be, because I had so much on my plate,
and as I explained to your grandmother, and your momma,
and your uncles,
that I was facing a lot of time.
And before I would let the police intervene in your life,
and destroy the image you have of me as your father
in your mind, I decided to leave.
But I didn't want to subject you to that.
God as my witness, I didn't.
So, you are saying that you knew,
you were her biological father. But because of
the life you were living at that time,
Yes, the criminal element.
Yes, ma'am.
You felt it was best,
to leave her out of that.
Yes.
And you basically kept
that news to yourself.
Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Brister, as you,
you know, talk about the various stories
your mother told you,
is there anything you'd like to say to your mother about
how these stories have affected you?
And how this lack of clarity has affected you?
It's just confusing, I mean...
I wanna know, you know, for me and for my children,
just for things that, you know,
that he couldn't be a part of, in my life.
You know?
And I apologize,
for leading you on,
like I did. I really do apologize.
And I am sorry.
I'm very sorry
that I hurt you.
'Cause I wasn't trying to.
I was not trying to, I was trying to protect you.
I apologize.
But if you had taken a DNA test,
and you knew that there had been a test,
did you ever get the answer,
or did you just not wanna know the answer?
I never got the answer,
until he told me the answer.
I haven't seen it, because, uh,
his family won't
present the paper.
But you've never seen the paperwork?
You've never seen the results in person?
No.
Ms. Brister, this is so hard.
This just really is.
Because on the one hand,
you've been led on this windy road,
your entire life,
and you have recollection of it.
On the other hand,
I hear Mr. Morris and Ms. Smith saying,
your mother saying, "We couldn't let her
"be in the midst of all this.
"So, I tried to protect her.
"And I tried to, I guess,
"put a man on your birth certificate, that she could
"call a father and that could be there for her."
What are your hopes in this moment,
before I give you the results?
I hope that, you know, me and Mr. Morris
can have a relationship, that he could
be a part of me and my husband's renewal ceremony,
'cause we're planning on renewing our vows,
you know, and I wanna
build a relationship with him,
and for him to be in my kids' life.
Because they deserve that too.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDS)
Beautifully said. I think, we need to get the results.
It's time.
Here you go.
Thank you, Jerome.
These results were prepared by DNA Diagnostics
and they read as follows.
In the case of Morris v. Brister,
when it comes to 29 year old
Lajeania Brister...
It has been determined by this court,
Mr. Morris.
Yes, Your Honor.
You...
Are not her father.
(AUDIENCE GASPS)
What?
JUDGE LAKE: I'm very sorry.
Can I hug my daughter?
Absolutely. Is that okay?
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
You can stand with your daughter, ma'am.
Ms. Brister,
Yes.
Are you okay?
I am.
I'm glad to know, you know,
it's one step closer.
Yes.
So...
I'm very proud of you, in this moment.
It wasn't the answer and the closure you wanted,
but at least we know now. Ms. Smith, I have to ask you,
do you know who, your daughter's biological
father is, if it is not Mr. Morris?
I believe
it's the deceased.
Well, I'll say this,
you know, our courtroom is here,
to help families,
and Ms. Brister, we'll be here for you.
And ma'am, I hope you'll continue to help your daughter
and help facilitate this process, okay?
I will.
Mr. Morris?
Yes, Your Honor.
I know this was probably,
a shock for you. Are you okay?
Yes, Your Honor.
We have counseling and resources for you.
I wish you all the very best of luck.
MORRIS: Thank you.
Court is adjourned.
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