Wednesday, May 22, 2013

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Retiring Judge Performs One Final Adoption
Judge Peter Michalski ends career by bringing one more family together
By Corey Allen-Young


ANCHORAGE - A retiring Alaskan judge got to spend his last day on the bench sending one family and their friends home happy.

It was all smiles and cheers in Judge Peter Michalski's courtroom as he presided over an adoption on his last day serving.

5-year-old Olie and 6-year-old Charlie have been living with Lyle and Donna Brown in foster care since they were babies. And Friday Judge Michalski made it official in front of Charlie and Olie's Gladys Wood Elementary classmates that they are officially Browns – a moment both Michalski and the family said it was a pleasure to be a part of.

Retiring after 27 years, Michalski says it didn't matter it was his first or last adoption: Helping to make the process legal is part of promoting family.