Court can be terrifying, especially for parents who are worried they’re at risk of losing their children .
J.H. Corpening II , the Chief District Court Judge for New Hanover and Pender Counties, knows this. He considers himself a trauma-informed judge, meaning he brings an empathetic perspective that takes into account the past negative experiences of the people who appear in his courtroom.
In New Hanover, Corpening is championing Safe Babies Court, a new specialty court in Wilmington that aims to reduce the time to find permanent homes for infants and toddlers in the child welfare system. Once per month, he meets with families enrolled in the optional program to discuss case plans and placement options.
He doesn’t wear a robe or clutch a gavel in these meetings. The chairs in the room are rearranged into a circle, and Corpening prefers to sit next to the parents instead of looming over them from the bench. Something as simple as making the courtroom a more welcoming environment can go a long way in rebuilding trust within the child welfare system, he believes.