11/28/2025
Part of the Wolf Watch Series:
Trauma-Informed Support for Survivors in Court, Chaos & Recovery
Tools & Truth for Surviving Legal Warfare
THE NARCISSIST IN COURT
By Leslii Stevens ERT500, YACEP, Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher
If you ever find yourself walking into a courtroom with a narcissist on the other side, buckle up. This isn’t just a court case, it’s a full-on battle for your life, your sanity, your truth. A narcissist doesn’t show up to “resolve” anything; they show up to win by any shady, slimy, underhanded tactic they can conjure. They are pathological liars with the ability to deliver an Oscar-worthy performance on command. In a courtroom, a narcissist becomes one of the most venomous, dangerous opponents you’ll ever face.
And the cases? Oh, they come in all flavors:
Criminal proceedings where you’re the victim of their chaos.
Divorce proceedings, where property and money suddenly become weapons.
Custody cases, the most painful battlefield of them all.
Proceedings over what they owe you, money, property, or anything they’ve conveniently “forgotten.”
If it’s divorce, watch how they walk in cool, calm, collected, like they’re the damn Dalai Lama in a tailored suit, meanwhile you’ve been ground down, worn out, broken open by months or years of their madness. Of course you look stressed. Of course your confidence has taken hits. That’s what living with a narcissist does.
Here’s the move: Do not talk to them. Do not look at them. Find a quiet corner, find a private room, find a damn broom closet if you have to. Keep yourself away from them and their flying monkeys so they can’t rattle you or drain your energy before you even step foot in front of a judge.
And yes, most people fear the same thing: What if they manipulate the court? What if people believe their lies? This is why your lawyer must actually understand Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Not kinda. Not sorta. Fully. Because a lawyer who doesn’t get the dynamics will get manipulated, and suddenly you’re being advised to “settle” when your gut is screaming HELL NO.
They’ve pushed you to your limits, but once you hit the courtroom, it’s your turn. Narcissists unravel fast when the spotlight burns too hot. Catch them in a lie, and their rage pops like a faulty firecracker. Their mask slips. Their lawyer will scramble like they’re trying to hold back a rabid animal, good luck with that. And yes, the narcissist has likely hidden assets, moved money, tucked things away. That’s their standard playbook.
You can break a narcissist in court, but you have to be prepared like your life depends on it. Your evidence must be irrefutable, undeniable, supported, solid. Don’t give them alternate explanations they can twist. A skilled lawyer can ask the right questions in the right tone and dismantle their ego without ever raising a voice. Something like:
“I’m led to believe you’re quite knowledgeable. What’s your highest academic qualification?
Oh… you don’t have one?”
Just like that. Their inflated self-image cracks, and suddenly their fragile ego is bleeding all over the courtroom floor.
Physically position yourself away from them. Don’t give them your eyes, not even once. Ignoring a narcissist is like pouring salt on their wound. They hate being invisible more than anything.
Remember: they genuinely believe they’re above the law. In their mind, they outrank everyone, including the judge. The idea that someone might actually hold them accountable is outrageous to them. And anyone who testifies against them? Automatically labeled corrupt, lying, out to get them.
Don’t react to anything they say or do. Nothing. No eye roll, no smirk, no sigh. They know where your buttons are, and they’ll try to slam every single one. Your job is to meet every attempt with pure, ice-cold indifference.
It’s hard to explain to a court how bad a narcissist’s behavior can truly be, but don’t worry, most of the time they reveal it themselves. Their fury, their entitlement, their unraveling, it leaks out, and the court sees it.
And your job?
Tell the truth. Just the truth. Don’t embellish, don’t exaggerate, don’t play their game or sink to their level. Stand in your integrity. That’s where your power is.
You don’t need theatrics. The narcissist will provide plenty of that.
