• Is that an elected position? If so: you might be able to start a recall petition.

The District Court Judge appoints magistrates here and I have her contact information as well as the chief magistrate's.

• That just means you have to follow the rules of your state's default month-to-month lease.

The real estate laws in my state honor a month-to-month lease based on the original lease once the original expires. I didn't have that statute with me the first time or I would have presented it. This is what I will argue to the chief magistrate if this next hearing goes the same as the first two. Hopefully I get a different magistrate this time. I assumed it would be open-and-shut, especially since she hasn't shown up either time.

• You might be able to press criminal charges for destruction of property. You can report the tenant to the police, but there's no guarantee the prosecutor won't drop the charges, or that a jury would deliver a guilty verdict, but it's worth a try.

If this hearing doesn't go my way and the health department fails me, I may have to take that route. It is the trash kind of hoarding more than the collection of junk type of hoarding. Plus, I don't think she takes her dog outside anymore. I will probably have to replace the 100 year old hardwood flooring once I get her out.

• That worries me, because the city might be making a coordinated effort against you. That means you're unlikely to get anyone to cut you an inch of slack. In that case, you'd have to sue the city for refusing to enforce state law.

I'm hoping a discussion with the District Court Judge or assistant would produce results before a lawsuit against the city was taken. Also, it would be easier to call in a favor but I don't like going that route if I don't have to.

• That's a good idea; you need to deal with anyone other than that, presumably Democrat, magistrate.

I assume she is Democrat, as the Judge who appointed her is.