The Best Holiday Gift A Judge Could Give

In One Courtroom, Christmas Is Time For Building Families

(CBS)  It’s got to be confusing being a kid in a courtroom. You’re told this is a place where grown-ups make big decisions.

But they can’t even decide if they want to stand or sit, CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports for Assignment America.

The clerk says “All rise!” and the judge says, “please be seated.”

Fortunately for the Salters, a family of four from Lansing, Mich., about to become a family of five, decorum is dispensed with almost immediately, and the judge cuts straight to the fun part.

"The court finds it is clearly in this lady's best interest to allow this adoption. And after this day her parents are always going to be Bradley Austin Salters and Tiffany Nicole Salters,” the judge says.

And with a wack of the gavel, another foster child finds a permanent home.

"Mommy: the best present that anyone will ever get in a lifetime," the judge announced.

"The greatest gift, there's no better Christmas that I could have ever imagined than to know that she's never leaving here," Tiffany Salters said.

Family court judge R. George Economy always makes a point of scheduling adoptions right before his holiday break. Bunches of adoptions. He started doing it 21 years ago, because he says it beats the heck out of ending the year on a divorce.

“And I wanted that smile in my heart when I went home to my own family for Christmas,” Economy said.

When Hartman visited his courtroom, lots of adopting foster families in central Michigan ask for Judge Economy - for obvious reasons. Most of these kids have been in the system for quite a while, which is why Judge Economy always lets them do the gavel to officially end their ordeal.

"There have been times they've really pounded that gavel down, I'm thinking the whole desk is going to shatter, but so what,” he said. “We'll build another desk."

This year’s hardest hitter was 16-year-old Jackie Lovegrove. She’s been in and out of foster care since age 9, but has been with this couple, Steve and Mary Vignassi, for the last two years. She says she’s looking forward to telling them she loves them.

“You haven't?" Hartman asked her.

“Before today it would have seemed scary, like they would have disappeared,” she said.

But…

“You're stuck with me now," Jackie said to her new father.

Judge Economy started doing this to kick off his own holiday right. But if it does the same for you, so much the better.

[rosyrosu]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Katie for that wonderful MERRY CHRISTMAS tonight (12/21). I don''t think I''ve heard a Merry Christmas anywhere these days -- no kidding. This is what I like about you Katie. You report the news and that''s it. No bias. You tell it as it is. None of this political correctness stuff. Please don''t leave Katie. Bravo to you and a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU TOO!!!!! Lois

[geophysgal]

Judge Economy was my lawer back in the late 70''s and presided over my adoption of me by my Grandparents. I was one of the first lucky kids to be able to be graced by Mr. Economy.
He always told me that he was MY lawyer, not my Grandparents and I remeber him as someone who loved kids and fiercly fought for them and what they needed and wanted.
Thank you Judge Economy. You helped me find the love I always wanted! Juli

[coonrs]

Though the Judge has been doing this for years - and it is good - he also has other issues:

http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1474&Itemid=99999999

[asilsille]

It was wonderful tonight to see the news portray something as it is true. I''ve known Judge Economy for many years and everything protrayed tonight truly represents him as a professional and person. Katie Couric put it perfectly, " He is the cutest judge ever!!"

[vwyvell]

Dear Judge Economy, Please move to Virginia! My mommy and her mommy-friends need you here. MERRY CHRISTMAS, Brigitte Veronique Wyvell-Deel (age 10) of Ashburn, Virginia, at http://mommygobyebye-virginia.blogspot.com (the MOMMY GO BYE-BYE blog, McLean, Virginia)

[johnmanuel1]

More to come for Judge George Economy.

[johnmanuel1]

Katie, your story about R. George Economy is an accurate depiction of what the man represents in real life. He is sensitive, intelligent, loves to laugh, just, and willing to listen. I got to know him through his brother Stephen Economy from Milford, Michigan. Stephen is my brother-in-law.

What Judge Economy is doing must become the standard. Let each judge pick their day to deliver deserving children to desiring parents. What a start these children will have in life!

If we each do something to make this world better, then just think of the type of harmony our lives will have on others.

john lelekis

[willyjboy]

I would like to thank Judge Economy for making Rachel Marie a part of our family. Great Aunt Debie Lecato

[willyjboy]

Thank you Judge Economy for making Rachel Marie part of our family. Great Aunt Debie