As a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children, my role necessitates frequent court appearances to represent the interests of children for whom I serve as a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL). Through these experiences, I have cultivated the practice of meticulously observing every facet of the courtroom process—from the punctuality of the court’s commencement (which, in my experience, has always been commendable) to the layout of the court, the behavior of the judge, and the attitudes of the state attorney, Children Services staff, parents, their attorneys, and when necessary, the child’s own legal representative.
On this day, parents involved in a case brought their two-year-old child to court. The court, a place of mandated silence and order, became a curious playground through the eyes of the child. Despite the parents’ efforts to keep their child restrained, the expansive courtroom seemed to invite the innocent playfulness inherent in children. As the proceedings unfolded, the child’s restless spirit could not be contained. Observing the parents’ struggle, the judge made a remarkable intervention, stating…
