From the Bench: Judge Alex Manning on TPOs, Credibility, and Courtroom Reality

What really happens inside Temporary Protective Order (TPO) court, and how do judges separate real danger from strategic filings?In this episode of Lawyers Without Billboards, Steve and Patty Shewmaker and Jimmy and Alexa Lewis sit down with Fulton County Magistrate Judge Alex Manning for an unfiltered conversation about life on the bench, domestic violence hearings, and the realities judges face every day in TPO court.Judge Manning pulls back the curtain on how credibility is evaluated, why volume does not equal truth, and how TPOs can be misused during divorce and custody disputes. She also shares unforgettable courtroom moments, lessons learned during COVID-era virtual hearings, and the emotional weight judges carry long after the courtroom clears.This episode blends humor, hard truth, and professional insight into one of the most misunderstood areas of family law.Topics include:• What really happens in TPO court • How judges assess credibility and firsthand knowledge • Common mistakes attorneys make in protective order hearings • Strategic misuse of TPOs in divorce cases • Why judges talk and patterns matter • COVID courtroom chaos and virtual hearing disasters • The emotional toll of domestic violence cases • Why in-person hearings matter for credibility • Lessons lawyers and litigants should take into every courtroomIf you practice family law, handle protective orders, or want an honest look at how decisions are made from the bench, this episode delivers rare perspective straight from the judge’s chair.⏱️ Chapter Markers00:00 – Podcast introduction and show overview 00:00:40 – Welcome to Lawyers Without Billboards 00:01:15 – Introducing Judge Alex Manning 00:02:45 – What magistrate judges really do 00:04:30 – Inside TPO court and why it’s misunderstood 00:06:10 – Spotting weak and strategic TPO filings 00:08:05 – Credibility, firsthand knowledge, and facts vs. noise 00:10:12 – “I cannot unsee that”: courtroom rules and phone evidence 00:12:10 – COVID-era hearings and virtual courtroom chaos 00:14:40 – Why in-person hearings matter 00:16:20 – Judges talk: strategy, patterns, and consequences 00:18:15 – When TPOs intersect with divorce and custody cases 00:20:30 – The emotional toll of domestic violence cases 00:22:45 – Managing stress, perspective, and burnout on the bench 00:24:40 – Judge Manning’s background and path to the bench 00:27:30 – Final thoughts and closing remarks🔔 Subscribe for honest conversations about family law and the legal system without the billboards.🎙️ Hosts: Steve & Patty Shewmaker, Jimmy & Alexa Lewis🎧 Listen or Watch Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/qLVEoh0xuaw or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.📩 Contact: [email protected] or call (770) 939-1939🌐 Website: https://www.shewmakerandlewis.com🎧 Podcast Library: https://shewmakerandlewis.com/lawyers-without-billboards📺 Subscribe for candid conversations about family law, custody, mediation, and courtroom reality.🎼 Music by Ben Hernandez at Dragonsong Productions 🎥 Produced by: Bleeding Edge, Inc. 🎬 Audio & Video Production: Rob Burgner 📍 Recorded at: Shewmaker & Lewis, Atlanta, GA