A judge in Louisville, Ky. allowed an inmate to meet his one-month-old son for the first time during a hearing last week.
Judge Amber Wolf was presiding over a courtroom in Jefferson County and husband and wife James and Ashley Roeder had hearings on the same day.
Both are co-defendants in the same burglary and Wolf ordered them to cease contact with each other.
READ MORE: Judge furious after female inmate appears in court without pants
“I saw her try to hold the baby up when he came out for his case to be called with his attorney,” Wolf told WDRB.
“And it occurred to me after we finished this case that he had not met his baby – who was 30 days old – and that he was not going to get an opportunity to meet his baby anytime in the near future.”
Without violating or changing the couple’s no-contact order, Wolf allowed James to meet his son for the first time.
“I understand that there is a chance that you’re going to go back to Todd County, and your baby is a month old, and you haven’t met that baby yet. Is that right?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Wolf summoned Ashley to hand the child over to her husband, who held and kissed him for several minutes.
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The touching moment appeared to affect everyone in the room as both Roeders wiped their eyes and Wolf sniffled.
“Thank you for letting me be a part of that,” Wolf said to Ashley.
The judge later addressed everyone in her courtroom: “If y’all aren’t teared up then y’all are just heartless!”
“I think it was – not as a judge, but just as person – it was probably one of the best things I’ve ever done. It made me feel good,” said Wolf.
Wolf made headlines last month for scolding jail officials for sending a female inmate to court without pants.
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