Family Court judge provides magical twist for adoptions

Clark County Family Court Judge Cynthia Giuliani wielded a magic wand instead of a gavel on Thursday.

“Should I say the magical words now?” Giuliani asked 5-year-old Gavin Sly and 4-year-old Brayden Sly.

The words were said over 15-month-old Brooklyn, who on Thursday was dressed as Cinderella. She was being adopted by Christine and Jonathan Sly. Giuliani, dressed as a fairy godmother, made Brooklyn giggle by using her name and waving her wand.

This was Giuliani’s third year dressing up for Halloween to liven up adoption ceremonies for children and their new families.

“We just really do it for the kids,” she said. “It kind of breaks the ice for them.”

Most of the children being adopted are between the ages of 2 and 6 years old, she said.

Thursday’s adoptions brought the total to 371 so far this year in Clark County, according to Kristi Jourdan, Family Services spokeswoman. But November and December are big months for adoptions.

There were 573 adoptions in 2013, 603 in 2012 and 718 in 2011.

The Sly couple had been fostering Brooklyn since she was 3 days old, and in March, they learned they would be able to apply for her adoption. But the couple was still anxious, not knowing whether the adoption would be finalized.

The couple, who also adopted their sons – Gavin in 2011 and Brayden in 2012 – now feel complete.

“We are done fostering and we are done adopting,” Christine Sly said. “We are just moving on with our little family.”

And Brooklyn is free of all Cinderella-like concerns about what will happen at midnight because she now has a permanent home.

“It’s a good ending for the families,” Giuliani said, adding that there’s a big need for foster and adoptive homes, where children will be “safe and well taken care of.”

Contact Yesenia Amaro at yamaro@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440. Find her on Twitter: @YeseniaAmaro.