The Austin Bar Association cosponsored the 23rd annual Austin Adoption Day, where children were officially adopted into their forever families.
The event took place at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility on Nov. 14. The adoption cases were heard by many of Travis County’s district judges.
There were 4,100 adoptions in Texas in 2023. Of those, 136 were in Travis County. Today, over 2,000 children are waiting for forever families. Of those 2,000, 63 percent are between the ages of 10 and 17.
The day was full of happy tears, love, laughter, and plenty of playful children running around the courtrooms filled with colorful stuffed animals.
Denise Hyde heads the Austin Bar’s Adoption Day Committee. The Austin Bar’s Family Law Section served as a cosponsor of the event.
Other Austin Adoption Day cosponsors included the Department of Family and Protective Services, the Travis County Office of Child Representation, CASA of Travis County, Kendra Scott, Whitestone Jewelry, Amy’s Ice Cream, Dignity Memorial, Ballet Austin, and Cook-Walden.
The Hortons were one of the families who finalized their adoption during the event. Rev. Dr. Daryl L. Horton, left, and his wife, Dr. Shalonda Horton, clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas School of Nursing, tearfully address the crowd with their adopted daughter, Eshana, beside them.Employees of CASA of Travis County dressed up as “Wizard of Oz” characters to celebrate the 23rd Annual Austin Adoption Day. Pictured with the CASA staff are Austin Bar Association President Mary-Ellen King; Denise Hyde (second row, second to last on the right); and Travis County Associate Judge Aurora Martinez Jones.Denise Hyde, far left, addresses the crowd gathered in the ceremonial courtroom of the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility to witness the adoption. Also pictured are Judge Aurora Martinez Jones, middle, and Patty Rocha, a supervisor with the Department of Family and Protective Services.Judge Aurora Martinez Jones addresses the crowd.Judge Aurora Martinez Jones dons her magical tiara, which imbues her with the authority to grant wishes on Austin Adoption Day. Shortly after this picture was taken, Judge Martinez Jones granted Eshana’s and the Horton’s wish and completed their family.
