ANNAPOLIS, Md. – In recognition of National Adoption Day on November 17, Maryland circuit courts will hold adoption proceedings and family celebrations Nov. 16 through Nov. 29. National Adoption Day honors adoptive families and draws attention to the need for permanent, loving families for children in foster care.

Members of the media are invited to attend National Adoption Day activities in November in the following circuit courts:

Anne Arundel County
Circuit Administrative Judge Laura S. Ripken will preside as seven children, ranging in age from 3 to 10 years old, are adopted on Thursday, Nov. 29, at the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County in Annapolis. Following the 9 a.m. proceedings in Courtroom 4C, refreshments will be offered in the fourth floor gallery. Families will receive a gift to commemorate the occasion. Literature will be available about foster care and adoption programs through the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services and private adoption agencies. For more information, contact Andrea Parks, Circuit Court Adoption Case Manager, at 410-222-2327.

Baltimore City
Circuit Administrative Judge W. Michel Pierson, Judge Emanuel Brown, and Judge Kendra Y. Ausby will preside jointly over approximately 25 adoption proceedings at the Circuit Court for Baltimore City on Saturday, Nov. 17. Following the 10 a.m. ceremony in the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr., Courthouse, families will celebrate together during a reception featuring face painters, a balloon artist, and arts and crafts activities. The newly adopted children will receive personalized gift bags that also include gifts for their siblings. The ceremony has been coordinated with the Bar Association of Baltimore City, with support from the Baltimore City Department of Social Services.

Baltimore County
The Circuit Court for Baltimore County will finalize several adoptions on Saturday, November 17, beginning at 11 a.m. in Historic Courtroom No. 5 in the Old Courthouse in Towson. Judge Sherrie R. Bailey will preside. The Baltimore County Bar Association has arranged for gifts for each of the participating families and will host a reception following the proceedings. Prior to the court proceedings, the Baltimore Gamers Orchestra will play for the families’ entertainment. During the reception, there will be costumed characters joining in the festivities. The event has been planned by the Bar Association with contributions from the Department of Social Services. Media cameras will be allowed inside the courtroom for the event.

Montgomery County
The judges of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County will preside over the adoptions of seven children on Friday, Nov. 16. The ceremonies will begin at 3:30 p.m. in Courtroom 3E of the Montgomery County Circuit Court’s North Tower in Rockville. The newly adopted children will receive personalized gifts. After the adoptions are finalized, the families will celebrate together at a reception hosted by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services with food and activities, including a face painter, a balloon artist, and caricaturist. For more information, contact Lili Khozeimeh, Circuit Court Adoption Coordinator, at 240-777-9119.

NOTE: Please contact the Maryland Judiciary’s Government Relations and Public Affairs Division by email at [email protected] if you plan to attend or have questions. The use of cameras must be approved in advance, and all persons being photographed should be asked for their consent to be photographed.

###