Jill, Derick & the Kids: Moving On!!

[monkeypox]

Dillard Family Statement On Josh Duggar Verdict Today

Quote

Today was difficult for our family.  Our hearts go out to the victims of child abuse or any kind of exploitation.  We are thankful for the hard work of law enforcement, including investigators, forensic analysts, prosecutors, and all others involved who save kids and hold accountable those responsible for their abuse. 

Nobody is above the law.  It applies equally to everybody, no matter your wealth, status, associations, gender, race, or any other factor.  Today, the people of the Western District of Arkansas made that clear in their verdict.  As a Christian, we believe we are all equal at the foot of the cross, and, likewise, we are all equal under the law.  Jesus warned his disciples, “…{B}eware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.  Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.” (Luke 12:1-3).   

Moreover, “[h]e who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” (Proverbs 17:15).  We have been lied to so much that we wanted to hear the evidence for ourselves in court.  After seeing all the evidence as it was presented, we believe that the jury reached a just verdict today, consistent with the truth beyond a reasonable doubt.

Josh’s actions have rippled far beyond the epicenter of the offense itself.  Children have scars, but his family is also suffering the fallout of his actions.  Our hearts are sensitive to the pains Josh’s wife, Anna, and their seven children have already endured and will continue to process in the future.  This trial has felt more like a funeral than anything else.  Josh’s family has a long road ahead.  We stand with them, we are praying for them, and we will seek to support them however we can during this dark time.  

 

Edited December 9, 2021 by monkeypox

[Jeanne222]

23 minutes ago, monkeypox said:

Dillard Family Statement On Josh Duggar Verdict Today

 

Wasn't bad but I wish they would have left out the Jesus stuff!

[monkeypox]

31 minutes ago, monkeypox said:

 We have been lied to so much that we wanted to hear the evidence for ourselves in court.  After seeing all the evidence as it was presented, we believe that the jury reached a just verdict today, consistent with the truth beyond a reasonable doubt.

I'm curious to know when Jill and Derick found out the severity of Josh's sexual assault on then five-year-old Jane Doe #4. Did they find out from pretrial motions (last month)? Did Derick just find out during Bobye Holt's trial testimony? I didn't get the impression that Jill knew she was lying in the 2015 Megyn Kelly interview when she, Jessa, JB, and Meech falsely minimized what Josh did in order to try to keep the family on TV. I would feel very angry at my parents if I knew they lied to me to get my support to protect a sexual predator and continue to enrich themselves.

Edited December 9, 2021 by monkeypox

[CountryGirl]

👏 👏 👏 👏  👏 for Jill and Derick’s statement. Speaking their truth and acknowledging that justice was served and no one is ABOVE the law. Extending Grace to Anna. The caring for their nieces and nephews. 

But also noting the sadness they feel because Jill is sad and has a right to be sad. I know that after the initial elation of the verdict, I’m having a lot of emotions and it’s triggering me right now, given my own history as a CSA survivor.

I am relieved that justice was served but I am also sad that this trial ever had to be. 

I’m sad for the victims, not just his siblings, and their spouses, and his own family, his children especially, but for the innocents in those images and recordings, for their suffering in their creation, for their revictimization every single time some sicko clicks on them. 

But I hope all CSA victims can find some measure of peace tonight.  

[coconspirator]

2 hours ago, Jeanne222 said:

Wasn't bad but I wish they would have left out the Jesus stuff!

I'm not huge on bible quotes but that passage from Luke about evil things done in the dark being revealed in the light is powerful, especially in a situation like this. I think the second quote was a dagger right towards Jim Bob and all of the people who covered for Josh at the expense of the four girls. It felt like they were talking to JB in a language he would most understand and feel victimized by. 

[MMEButterfly]

2 hours ago, Jeanne222 said:

Wasn't bad but I wish they would have left out the Jesus stuff!

I hear you, but it is their way, and the Scripture cut to the quick. 

[Scarlett45]

3 hours ago, CountryGirl said:

👏 👏 👏 👏  👏 for Jill and Derick’s statement. Speaking their truth and acknowledging that justice was served and no one is ABOVE the law. Extending Grace to Anna. The caring for their nieces and nephews. 

But also noting the sadness they feel because Jill is sad and has a right to be sad. I know that after the initial elation of the verdict, I’m having a lot of emotions and it’s triggering me right now, given my own history as a CSA survivor.

I am relieved that justice was served but I am also sad that this trial ever had to be. 

I’m sad for the victims, not just his siblings, and their spouses, and his own family, his children especially, but for the innocents in those images and recordings, for their suffering in their creation, for their revictimization every single time some sicko clicks on them. 

But I hope all CSA victims can find some measure of peace tonight.  

Beautifully said.

I think the Dillards statement was thoughtful and sincere.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us and being so vulnerable. 

[LexieLily]

At this point, I wonder, what are the realistic chances of Jill/Derick packing up, taking the boys and leaving the state/not coming back? I don't think she and Jinger were ever especially close, but Jinger does live in Cali and 'only' has two kids, same as her.

Edited December 10, 2021 by LexieLily

[Scarlett45]

10 hours ago, LexieLily said:

At this point, I wonder, what are the realistic chances of Jill/Derick packing up, taking the boys and leaving the state/not coming back?

I think Jill probably likes living in AR- that’s her home. She also has emotional ties to Amy, and her buddy group- James, Joy-Anna & Jennifer. I don’t know how much she has seen Jennifer lately but I don’t doubt she loves her very much. 
 

 

[emmawoodhouse]

11 minutes ago, Scarlett45 said:

I think Jill probably likes living in AR- that’s her home. She also has emotional ties to Amy, and her buddy group- James, Joy-Anna & Jennifer. I don’t know how much she has seen Jennifer lately but I don’t doubt she loved her very much. 
 

 

As I noted in another thread, Derick's ties are also local, and he's very close to his mother and brother. I don't think they're going anywhere.

[Zella]

Also on a practical note, but I think a U of A law degree works a lot better in Arkansas (and, to a lesser extent, neighboring states). Pretty much every lawyer I know in Arkansas went to the U of A. The networking potential as an alumni is maximized by staying in-state. 

[Absolom]

I don't think a U of A law degree has the selling power in LA as it does in NWA.  Plus if Derick didn't pass the Arkansas bar after studying in AR, I don't like his chances on the California bar.  

[Cinnabon]

12 minutes ago, Absolom said:

I don't think a U of A law degree has the selling power in LA as it does in NWA.  Plus if Derick didn't pass the Arkansas bar after studying in AR, I don't like his chances on the California bar.  

Is the California bar known to be more difficult? 

[emmawoodhouse]

5 minutes ago, Cinnabon said:

Is the California bar known to be more difficult? 

One of the hardest.

[Absolom]

Quote

For example, many experts believe that California has one of the hardest bar exams to pass in order to work as a licensed attorney in the state.

From: 

https://crushbarexam.com/which-state-has-the-hardest-bar-exam/

My daughter took it when it was still three grueling days.  The cut off score for passing the bar in California is one of the highest in the country.  

[Zella]

I must confess that I initially read the LA in @Absolom's post as Louisiana, and I immediately agreed, thinking that even though it is a neighboring state, what with the Napoleonic Code's influence over there, that is probably not extensively covered at U of A's Law School. Though I was confused why they would be moving to Louisiana specifically. I feel really dumb now. LOL 

[emmawoodhouse]

They dropped the score to 1390 during the height of the pandemic. It allowed the husband of a Real Housewife to finally pass the bar on his 3rd attempt.

[Absolom]

3 minutes ago, Zella said:

I must confess that I initially read the LA in @Absolom's post as Louisiana, and I immediately agreed, thinking that even though it is a neighboring state, what with the Napoleonic Code's influence over there, that is probably not extensively covered at U of A's Law School. Though I was confused why they would be moving to Louisiana specifically. I feel really dumb now. LOL 

I admit to the reverse.  I see someone posting about Louisiana as LA and I go what??? for a minute until I reset.  And to think my parents lived in Arkansas for 20 years and I still don't think of Louisiana first.  

[Zella]

1 minute ago, Absolom said:

I admit to the reverse.  I see someone posting about Louisiana as LA and I go what??? for a minute until I reset.  And to think my parents lived in Arkansas for 20 years and I still don't think of Louisiana first.  

I have some permanent trauma from how many people on the internet keep calling Arkansas AK. No matter how many times I see it, I always just get so confused and think "WTF--what does Alaska have--oh. Oh." 😂 But now that I think about it, I guess it's not a postal code that comes up a lot if you're not in the state.

[Absolom]

10 minutes ago, Zella said:

I have some permanent trauma from how many people on the internet keep calling Arkansas AK. No matter how many times I see it, I always just get so confused and think "WTF--what does Alaska have--oh. Oh." 😂 But now that I think about it, I guess it's not a postal code that comes up a lot if you're not in the state.

After writing or typing AR for 20 years for my parents, I'm the same way.  After all the AR is before the K.  

[GeeGolly]

Folks also frequently forget the abbreviation for Maine and instinctively go for MA, which is Massachusetts. ME is Maine.

I agree there's no reason for Jill and Derick to move. Their family on both sides live in AR. And its not too far from OSU, which I see in the boys future.

[monkeypox]

So far, Derick is the only one who has expressed any criticism of Jim Bob and Meech. He took a mild, "we were lied to" swipe at them in the Dillard Official Statement, but none of the other J'kids/spouses has even hinted that JB and Meech did anything wrong. I would feel furious and used by my parents/in-laws in a similar situation.

[GeeGolly]

13 minutes ago, monkeypox said:

So far, Derick is the only one who has expressed any criticism of Jim Bob and Meech. He took a mild, "we were lied to" swipe at them in the Dillard Official Statement, but none of the other J'kids/spouses has even hinted that JB and Meech did anything wrong. I would feel furious and used by my parents/in-laws in a similar situation.

I think these last couple of weeks and yesterday's conviction are a lot to take in. I'm not sure in any of the older Duggar 18 have been able to digest it all enough to know what they're feeling. And I'm not sure they'll all publicly acknowledge anything.

[Minivanessa]

24 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

I think these last couple of weeks and yesterday's conviction are a lot to take in. I'm not sure in any of the older Duggar 18 have been able to digest it all enough to know what they're feeling. And I'm not sure they'll all publicly acknowledge anything.

I agree. I'm sure they are all being pushed hard by JB to support Josh and toe the line, and preached at incessantly about it, so there's that going on too. 

[farmgal4]

On 12/8/2021 at 3:12 PM, BitterApple said:

I have to take back my earlier criticism of Jill's hair. The color looks much prettier in natural light than it did under the salon fluorescents. 

She looks fabulous!

[BetyBee]

I think the Dillard statement was from the heart and effective. However, based on the line "As a Christian" rather than "As Christians" it appears that one person (Derick) penned it. I'm sure he had Jill look it over and approve it before hitting send. Neither of them caught that. 

[asuwur]

Is it possible that one reason Derrick was there religiously, taking copious notes (while I don't think he's an absolute monster and we have seen some evolution on his part. I could see him wanting to help Anna. He's part of the Duggar "injured Spouse" Club too.) is that he's trying to build a civil case against JB and Mullet? 

[laurakaye]

58 minutes ago, monkeypox said:

So far, Derick is the only one who has expressed any criticism of Jim Bob and Meech. He took a mild, "we were lied to" swipe at them in the Dillard Official Statement, but none of the other J'kids/spouses has even hinted that JB and Meech did anything wrong. I would feel furious and used by my parents/in-laws in a similar situation.

I feel like Austin made several non-verbal statements during the trial, such as moving to the back row rather than sit anywhere near Jim Bob, keeping his arm tight around Joy, etc.  This is just based on what I read about who came to the trial, where they sat, who they talked to.  Austin seems more like a man of actions, not words.  I'm guessing that he is just as enraged at Josh and JB as Derrick is, he just doesn't have the words to slay him like Derrick could.

It does make me wonder how Jeremy would've presented himself if he and Jinger had attended.

And I can't get over the timing of Jill going blond and then showing up to court looking like a complete badass.  I know we're basically going off that one picture of her and Derrick, but wow - she has come a long way and I just hope she continues to pull away from her very toxic family and become an even stronger version of herself.  I find it comforting that she has three great guys in her corner - Derrick, Izzy and Sam.  Freakin' YAY.

[Panopticon]

38 minutes ago, BetyBee said:

I think the Dillard statement was from the heart and effective. However, based on the line "As a Christian" rather than "As Christians" it appears that one person (Derick) penned it. I'm sure he had Jill look it over and approve it before hitting send. Neither of them caught that. 

I noticed that too. At least it wasn’t as bad as the time Derick wrote his bio for a law school web page and forgot whether he was writing in first person or third person. One sentence was something like “I married the love of his life, Jill.” 
 

(Proofread, Derick! Lawyers need to proofread!) 

[SMama]

1 hour ago, asuwur said:

Is it possible that one reason Derrick was there religiously, taking copious notes (while I don't think he's an absolute monster and we have seen some evolution on his part. I could see him wanting to help Anna. He's part of the Duggar "injured Spouse" Club too.) is that he's trying to build a civil case against JB and Mullet? 

According to someone in the gallery (get your pound of salt ready) while Derick brought his note pad everyday he/she never saw him take notes. 

[Tikichick]

Making the analogy between the trial and a funeral is probably incredibly accurate in terms of the upheaval and turmoil the family has been going through, and will no doubt continue to go through for some time.   Hopefully by the time he is released they all will have achieved plenty of stability because that will no doubt churn plenty of muck back to the surface for all of them.   It's likely he returns to a dramatically changed family dynamic -- hopefully very much including his own household.   

[Absolom]

It was possibly so many deaths.  Death of hope that Josh really didn't do something so despicable.  Death of faith in Jim Bob's honesty.  Death of any idea that Jim Bob and by extension Michelle had any support for Josh's victims.  Death of retaining belief that their marriage partners picked by Jim Bob were God-ordained.  I'm sure there are many more, but the now gaping holes in Jim Bob's personality, psychology, and theology are now open to the world permanently and in most cases without doubt. 

[Madtown]

[GeeGolly]

Jill broke the SM dry spell. Lets see who goes next.

[xwordfanatik]

1 hour ago, Madtown said:

I like her expression.  It says, IMO, "don't think you can mess with me."

I love it that their dog seems truly like a family member.  

Living a more authentic life seems to agree with Jill.  Good!

 

[luvmylabs]

On 12/9/2021 at 5:22 PM, Jeanne222 said:

Wasn't bad but I wish they would have left out the Jesus stuff!

Respectfully disagree.  Religion is a major part of their lives.  They look to Jesus for comfort, support, and help.  As a Christian myself I thought their wording was sensitive, truthful, and classy.  I wish them well as they go forward.  They have come far and have a way to go.

[Lady Whistleup]

Nice post. Fenna is still cute.

[YupItsMe]

5 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

Jill broke the SM dry spell. Lets see who goes next.

My money’s on Jessa.

[Slakkie]

I smiled when I saw her post. She is vindicated for her own path. Good for her

[JAYJAY1979]

She has closure now and I think this will be an important step in healing and looking to the future.

[Temperance]

21 minutes ago, mynextmistake said:

I’m really glad Jill has support from her husband, friends, and church community. She has been through a lot and deserves a chance to heal. ❤️

Her in-laws are also supportive.

[awaken]

On 12/10/2021 at 8:22 PM, YupItsMe said:

My money’s on Jessa.

IMO it’s gotta be Jeremy. I’m sure he can’t hold out much longer. 

[madpsych78]

Evidently Kim Kardashian West passed the "baby bar" exam in California. She evidently finally passed after failing it several times. 

Including it in this thread because I am wondering if Derick had to do something similar in Arkansas.

[absnow54]

On 12/12/2021 at 1:36 PM, awaken said:

IMO it’s gotta be Jeremy. I’m sure he can’t hold out much longer. 

His backlog of food posts is growing by the minute. 

[Teriacky]

The California baby bar exam is given after the first year of law school for students attending an UNACCREDITED law school. They must pass the baby bar to enter their second year of law school. 
 

Derick graduated from an accredited law school, 

[Nysha]

On 12/9/2021 at 3:52 PM, CountryGirl said:

I’m sad for the victims, not just his siblings, and their spouses, and his own family, his children especially, but for the innocents in those images and recordings, for their suffering in their creation, for their revictimization every single time some sicko clicks on them. 

I am sad for all involved except Sex Pest and his enabling parents. They turned onto this road to hell the moment they lied to minimize his abuse of his siblings. If there was true justice in this world, they would be locked up along with Pest.

I like Jill's new look and that she's going on with her life. 

Edited December 13, 2021 by Nysha

[beckie]

What is the baby bar?

[peppergal]

22 minutes ago, beckie said:

What is the baby bar?

It is the end of first year law exam in California.  Basically if your law school is so low that it is unaccredited, you have to pass that exam to move on to the rest of your law schooling.  There are other cases where a student might need to take it due to other gaps in their schooling, but for people in traditional law school programs in the state it isn't a requirement. 

https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/First-Year-Law-Students-Examination

 

[Minivanessa]

I don't think there's such a thing as a "baby bar" exam in Arkansas - and if there were it would not be relevant to Derick's situation. He's a graduate of an accredited law school.

He has not yet passed the Arkansas bar exam (we think he took it), and if he wants to be a licensed lawyer he will have to take it (again) and pass it. It's not unusual for people to fail the bar exam on their first try and then pass it the next time they take it. BTW, a friend of mine who has had a stellar career in the law, failed the bar exam on her first try. Stuff happens. Just saying.

[beckie]

5 hours ago, peppergal said:

It is the end of first year law exam in California.  Basically if your law school is so low that it is unaccredited, you have to pass that exam to move on to the rest of your law schooling.  There are other cases where a student might need to take it due to other gaps in their schooling, but for people in traditional law school programs in the state it isn't a requirement. 

https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Examinations/First-Year-Law-Students-Examination

 

Thanks!