Courtroom 3H

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

For many of us as parents we can provide and care for our children with minimal complications and conflict. But what about the others who need to fight and prove their worth as parents, particularly in the eyes of the court? In Courtroom 3H we get a glimpse into the day-to-day of Dependency Court, 2^nd Judicial Court in Tallahassee, Florida. And for those who go through that courtroom the goal is simple: to put families back together in a safe and quick manner—if possible.

With the Honorable Jonathan Sjostrom at the helm for all proceedings there is a sense of calm and respect for the courtroom itself. In the first part of the documentary Sjostrom starts his hearings with assuring the parents that he is there to help those who are in his presence find a pathway to their children. Even more important, he provides the children a place to advocate for their own wants and needs. And just about every type of case imaginable comes through the courts. Mothers and fathers fighting for the rights to their children due to their own personal problems. Paternity cases and adoption proceedings. Parents who willingly give up parental rights to give the children a better life. Parents who are trying to do better for their families and improving their circumstances to do so. There are no names provided, but the stories resonate as each case has their own set of issues and challenges to move through.

By the second part of the documentary, it is apparent not all cases are cut-and-dry—some require a little more work. The trials offer a more in-depth exploration of more complicated matters, especially in the cases of Elías and Ela. For Elías, the parental rights come with an immigration issue as the mother has had her rights terminated due to abuse and the father lives in Venezuela. With Ela, her mother is working hard to bring her home despite documented anger issues and a toxic relationship with Ela’s father. The cases are presented and given the respectful time due to each parent as they fight for their parental rights. And even though in both trials the parents desperately want to retain those rights, the outcome doesn’t always mean that they will. Not every case will have a happy ending.

In having the opportunity to speak with Director Antonio Méndez Esparza, the goal of Courtroom 3H was to sit back and let the stories speak for themselves—which they do. Instead of any background vocal bites or cutaways, the focus becomes the hearings and the emotions that they evoke. The parents in that courtroom get emotionally charged when it comes to their children, even if they are letting them go. They get angry when they lose their children and watch them become attached to caregivers. They become determined to get through the case plan no matter what it takes. And they cry tears of joy when the Judge grants them parental rights and they can bring their children home.

One of the biggest scenes that stood out to me was the one parent who terminated his parental rights, just so his son could have a better life. Judge Sjostrom told the father that what he was doing was an “act of courage and responsibility.” As parents we want to provide for our children, even if that means making the tough decision that we are not the best choice. Unfortunately, there are also parents who don’t show up to the hearings and who have their rights terminated because of that. While we may hope for the happy ending to occur where every child gets to be with their parents, it’s not the truth.

In the beginning of the Courtroom 3H, when Judge Sjostrom would address each new case that came through his courtroom, he wanted the parents to know that the “department wants you to prove them wrong.” He tells them they need to put in the work and prove their worth in the eyes of the court because children deserve a happy, loving home and as parents it’s our job to make sure they have just that.

For more information on Courtroom 3H, you can check out their page on Aquí y Allí Films by clicking here: https://www.aquiyallifilms.com/courtroom3h.