F R O M T H E T H I R T E E N T H J U D I C I A L C I R C U I T C H I E F
Ronald Ficarrotta - Chief Judge, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
J U D G E
the happiest Day of the year
H
84 children were awaiting a permanent adoptive home in
hillsborough County, as of october 31, 2019.
ow many court hearings result in
everyone leaving with a smile, or even
tears of joy? Well, on National Adoption
Day, everyone is happy! Each year we
celebrate this event, but this year was
particularly joyous. November 15, 2019 was our biggest
celebration ever!
I was the Emcee of Adoption Rocks!, which was the
theme of the day. Mayor Jane Castor, County
Commissioner Sandy Murman, and Secretary of the
Department of Children and Families Chad Poppell
offered personal remarks, which speaks to the importance
of this occasion. In all, 61 children were adopted into 39
forever families. Judges Katherine Essrig, Jack Espinosa,
Robert Bauman, Kim Hernandez Vance, and Thomas
Palermo presided over the adoption hearings. The
children celebrated with teddy bears, backpacks full of
goodies, face painting, balloon animals, and cake. The
Edgecomb Courthouse became the Happiest Place in
Hillsborough County, if only for a day.
National Adoption Day is celebrated in the Thirteenth
Circuit as part of a national effort to raise awareness
about the children awaiting adoption from the foster care
systems in the United States. It began in 1976 when
Massachusetts Governor Mike Dukakis announced the
first Adoption Week, which grew in popularity
Continued on page 19
National Adoption Day at the Edgecomb Courthouse, November 21, 2019.
18
JAN - FEB 2020
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HCBA LAWYER