P
aul Corey, CPF's legislative co-director, is once again a free man.Featured in a front-page Boston Sunday Herald news story on December 15, Corey rose to superstar status in the movement when he was again ordered to a Medfield mental hospital as a result of a court hearing, and promptly went into hiding.
Corey's problems began on November 7 in Quincy District Court in front of Judge Black, for - you guessed it - a bogus 209A abuse protection order. Paul was alleged, among other violations, to have dropped off two gallons of milk for his children, even though he was forced to leave the milk in the street because the order prohibited him from coming close to the marital home.
When the judge ordered an in-court psychiatric evaluation for "competency to stand trial," Corey requested that the evaluation be taped. The friendly court psychologists refused. Corey then requested that the judge note this in writing, again to no avail. He then offered to proceed with the evaluation, but the psychologists preferred to take a lunch break.
|
|
Corey obtained a measure of notoriety in Dedham Family Court when he represented himself at his divorce trial, which began on August 1 and lasted until August 28. He contested the divorce pro se based on Supreme Court case law and the "Affirmation of Marriage" section of chapter 207 of the state code. |
|
When they went back to the courtroom, the judge promptly declared him "mentally incompetent," and ordered him to Medfield State Hospital for an evaluation. Once there, Paul consistently refused to be medicated. Three weeks later, he was released after an independent psychologist documented there was nothing wrong with him.
The next day, District Attorney Bill Delahunt's office obtained a court order from Judge Winslow to have Corey recommitted to the hospital and to administer medication. The thought of being administered anti-psychotic drugs against his will was sufficient to convince Corey to avoid service of the order and go into hiding.
Paul Corey is a devoted father of four children, for which he was the primary care parent for much of their lives. A breakdown in his marriage led to a separation. His estranged wife then obtained fraudulent 209A abuse protection orders against him which were eventually used to terminate contact with his children.
Corey obtained a measure of notoriety in Dedham Family Court when he represented himself at his divorce trial, which began on August 1 and lasted until August 28. He contested the divorce pro se based on Supreme Court case law and the "Affirmation of Marriage" section of chapter 207 of the state code.
According to Corey, "half of the 'patients' at the psychiatric hospital were there for abuse protection order-related issues... jail isn't the only place that's being filled with fathers."