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Cf. domestic violence restraining orders
The Volokh Conspiracy has a great post regarding a (non domestic) restraining order issued in New Mexico. Petitioner alleges that David Letterman is has been causing her distress over the last ten years by inserting "code words" about her into his program, causing bankruptcy, sleeplessness and mental distress. She requests that Letterman be forbidden to think of her. The judge signed the order, albeit without a "think of" provision, and set hearing for January 12.
Upon being questioned by the media, the judge assured them that he had read the application before issuing the order. Personally, if I was him, I'd rather have people think me incompetent than insane.
Good comments, too, on how easy it is to get a domestic violence order, and a case where a secretary simply opened the order to the signature page and the judge signed it, without reading what he'd signed, let along the petition. As commentors note, the judges are scared that if they refuse an order, and anything happens, their name will be in the papers, whereas if they issue every single one, there is no risk.
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