For many people, navigating the court system can be stressful and sometimes traumatic. To try and make their courts a more welcoming place, The Orange County Clerk of Superior Court hired a new staff member.
Orange County Clerk of Superior Court, Mark Kleinschmidt, said there is something inherently traumatic about going into a courthouse – especially for people who are victims of crime, those who have a disability or children. He said hiring Adele was a big step towards easing that terror.
“In 2019, the newest staff member at the Orange County Clerk of Superior Court’s Office has four legs – and her name is Adele,” Kleinschmidt said.
Adele is a Golden Retriever and a highly-trained facility dog. She works full time at the Orange County Superior Court. For her coworkers, Adele isn’t just a dog, she’s a part of the team.
“It’s weird for me to call her an animal because she really does feel like she’s a member of the staff,” Kleinschmidt said. “She works as hard as anybody.”
Adele was implemented into the court system last year with the goal of easing anxiety experienced by children and witnesses. She’s specially trained to work in active spaces with lots of strangers and to ignore extraneous stimulus to stay focused on the individual she’s serving.
Adele was trained by inmates at the Caswell Correctional Center in Yanceyville. This unique training was facilitated by a local nonprofit called Eyes, Ears, Nose and Paws or EENP.
Kleinschmidt said a volunteer with EENP brought Adele into his office to showcase her training and it was love at first bark.
“Throughout the day she’s called to the District Attorney’s office, the Public Defender’s Office, and into probation and the court rooms and everyone from top to bottom has just fallen in love with her,” Kleinschmidt said.
(Photo courtesy of Adele & The Orange County Courthouse)
Whether Adele is in the courtroom with witnesses who are experiencing trauma or helping a person with autism testify, Kleinschmidt describes her as a “love sponge.”
“Fewer angry words are spoken in the courtroom when Adele trots out,” Kleinschmidt said. “It has a way of just deescalating tensions in the courtroom. She’s just amazing.”
Kleinschmidt said Adele’s work is just another extension of the work done at the Clerk of Court’s office – where the mission is to make sure the courthouse is a welcoming place for everyone.
You can follow Adele’s work on her Instagram or look for updates on her Facebook page.
(Lead photo courtesy of Adele & The Orange County Courthouse)
