Danielle S Story (Not Her Real Name)

Danielle’s Story (not her real name)

On a Thursday in November of 1996 I went to work like any other day as I had for 15 years. Since it was a Thursday, my schedule called for me to handle any new dependency and neglect filings for the day. On that day we had a new filing on an infant. The young mother was there along with the county attorney, the caseworker and the child’s guardian ad litem.

As I entered the courtroom I noticed a couple of other people behind the bar, including a young woman, perhaps in her early twenties, who I assumed to be with the mother. At the conclusion of the hearing the facts dictated that I order the infant to remain in the state’s custody and that I set another hearing.

I left the bench to take a break in my chambers. I was removing my robe when I turned to find that the young woman who had been in the audience had followed me and was standing not five feet from me. Of course, I was startled, and said to her “You can’t be in here,” as I took a couple of steps toward her and the door from which she had come. She backed up as I moved forward and said, “I just want to tell you something.”

I took a couple more steps to usher her toward the door and said, “I can’t talk to you about this case,” to which she replied, “I don’t want to talk to you about this case.”

By this time we were nearly at the threshold of the door and I asked, “Well, why are you here?” She responded with tears welling up in her eyes, “I just wanted to tell you that you saved me.”

Of course I was confused, but her tears melted me and I admitted to her that I didn’t understand. She went on to explain through her tears that about 12 years before when she was 9 years old she was a child in my courtroom. She continued by saying, “You and my guardian ad litem were the only people who talked about my best interests.” I’ve been cautioned many times not to do this but at that moment we hugged. It was the right thing to do.

It turns out that “Danielle” (not her real name) is a young mother who is working with our local child advocacy agency. She is the mother of a young son and she wants to become a parent educator. I’m confident that she will succeed.

I know that Danielle gave me way too much credit. She was the powerful and resilient one – but – I was, and am, proud to have been a part of a circle of individuals and agencies that “saved” Danielle.

I went home that Thursday night contented and I slept well and was anxious to begin anew the next day. I felt effective. I had made a difference, even though it had taken many years to hear about it. In my professional life I can achieve no greater high or feeling of satisfaction than that which I gain from my work in the juvenile court.

J. Robert Lowenbach

District Court Judge

Greeley, Colorado