My question involves restraining orders in the State of: New York
My boyfriend is bipolar and an alcoholic, and a year ago he went off his meds, drank, and attacked me. I got an RO, but at the hearing he asked for a lawyer (in NY you have a right to legal ai). I had legal aid already. So the hearing was set for 2 months later. My boyfriend is very shrewd in the court room, he has legal knowledge, and I knew he was up to something. At the same time, his probation officer made it a condition of his probation (he had a DUI) that he take his meds and not contact me. So I dismissed the order without prejudice.
As happens in cases with battered women, I got sucked back into a relationship with him with his promises to not drink and to take his meds. Now, a year later he got drunk and attacked me again and I want to get an RO, but this time I know what his plans were to fight me in court so I can be better prepared. What I want to know is if the court will have a problem giving me the RO since I had the temporary dismissed a year ago. How does it usually go in a case like this in NY? BTW, he was convicted of domestic violence against his ex wife so I feel I have a good chance at getting the RO. Please don't criticize me for being involved with him, I loved him and believed what he told me about his past - the DV did not start until three years into the relationship...

