Trial Courts Celebrate National Adoption Day

Last updated on Monday, November 9, 2015

(UNDATED) - Twenty-five Indiana trial courts will celebrate National Adoption Day by allowing families and press the opportunity to photograph and videotape adoption proceedings. The Indiana Supreme Court is authorizing cameras in court for uncontested adoptions.

National Adoption Day is celebrated to increase awareness of the value of adoption. Many agencies including the Department of Child Services, the Heart Gallery, Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Children's Bureau, and local adoption agencies will be involved in events across the state.

Participating counties will welcome more than 140 children to court. The adoptions will occur on the following dates and approximate start times:

Allen - Judge Charles Pratt on November 19 at 8:30 a.m.
Bartholomew - Judge Kathleen Coriden on November 25 at 10 a.m.
Bartholomew - Judge Heather Mollo on November 25 at 11 a.m.
Bartholomew - Judge James Worton on November 25 at 9 a.m.
Delaware - Judge John Feick on November 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Delaware - Judge Marianne Vorhees on November 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Elkhart - Judge Stephen Bowers on November 20 at 10 a.m.
Elkhart - Magistrate Deborah Domine on November 20 at 10 a.m.
Elkhart - Judge Evan Roberts on November 20 at 10 a.m.
Fayette - Judge Beth Butsch on November 23 at 3:45 p.m.
Grant - Judge Dana Kenworthy on November 20 at 9 a.m.
Hendricks - Judge Robert Freese on November 23 at 9:30 a.m.
Henry - Judge Mary Willis on November 20 at 1 p.m.
Johnson - Judge K. Mark Loyd on November 23 at 1:30 p.m.
Lake - Magistrate Glenn Commons on November 20 at 8:30 a.m.
Lake - Magistrate Matthew Gruett on November 20 at 8:30 a.m.
Lake - Referee Teresa Hollandsworth on November 20 at 8:30 a.m.
Lake - Magistrate Jeffrey Miller on November 20 at 8:30 a.m.
Lake - Judge Thomas Stefaniak on November 20 at 8:30 a.m.
St. Joseph - Judge James Fox on November 13 at 9 a.m.
Tippecanoe - Judge Thomas Busch on November 19 at 9 a.m.
Vanderburgh - Judge Brett Niemeier on November 19 at 8 a.m.
Warrick - Judge Greg Granger on November 19 at 9 a.m.

For more details about an event in a specific county, please contact the county directly at:

Allen - Kate at 260-449-3574
Bartholomew (Judge Coriden) - Janet at 812-565-5654
Bartholomew (Judge Mollo) - Tammy at 812-565-5633
Bartholomew (Judge Worton) - Lisa at 812-565-5642
Clark - Terri at 812-285-6294
Delaware (all judges) - Terri at 765-747-7770
Elkhart (all judges) - Beth at 574-523-2389
Fayette - Shelly at 765-825-1331
Grant - Claudia at 765-662-1719
Hendricks - Debbie at 317-745-9388
Henry - Susan at 765-529-5811
Johnson - Tammi at 317-346-4561
Lake (all judges) - Lenise at 219-660-6964
Madison - Theresa at 765-641-9624
St. Joseph - Mary Ellen at 574-232-6728
Tippecanoe - Angela at 765-429-3353
Vanderburgh - Kywnn at 812-435-5378
Warrick - Diane at 812-306-5621

The National Adoption Day Authorization to Broadcast Court Proceedings order (http://www.in.gov/judiciary/files/order-other-2015-94S00-1509-MS-581.pdf) details terms for media coverage including:

Judges have full discretion
Media may use still photography, video and audio for news purposes
Equipment must not be intrusive
Courtroom proceedings should not be disrupted

Indiana trial courts resolve disputes in over 1.3 million cases each year. Adoptions are just one case type. Each year there are about 3700 adoptions in the state.

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