DALLAS, Texas, October 24, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) — LifeSite reporter Madeleine Jacob and close to 50 other people, including The Texan News, were refused entrance into the Dallas courtroom where the trial concerning 7-year-old James Younger came to a close today. Three bailiffs were ordered to stand guard in front of the locked door as Judge Kim Cooks announced her final ruling granting joint custody of James.
SIGN PETITION: Support Dad and Texas Governor’s bid to save 7-year-old boy from being turned into girl #ProtectJamesYounger Sign the petition here.
In the #ProtectJamesYounger case, Judge Cooks CLOSED the court room and three bailiffs prevented anyone without a hard card press pass from entering the court room.
— LifeSiteNews.com (@LifeSite) October 24, 2019
At the #ProtectJamesYounger case and close to 50 people were denied entry to the court room. Some came from across the state and without warning Judge Cooks closed the court room.
— LifeSiteNews.com (@LifeSite) October 24, 2019
Despite not needing to show a press pass to enter the court at any time during the past two weeks, Jacob found herself standing outside in the hallway this afternoon because she didn't have a hard copy of her credentials. A local CBS-affiliate was invited in with their camera.
Jacob, who has been in the courtroom every time the trial has been in session, presented not only her license but also a digital press pass in an effort to get in. She was told she needed a hard copy press pass to enter. Industry practice is generally that a digital press pass is enough to gain admission to an event.
“I think it’s unfair that the media outlets who have been covering it from the beginning were thrown out while the local mainstream media outlets were invited in,” Kim Roberts, a reporter for The Texan, told LifeSite.
Judge Kim Cooks just closed the #ProtectJamesYounger courtroom. LifeSiteNews, @TheTexanNews, and many other reporters were preventing from entering the closed court because we didn’t have ‘hard cards press passes. Digital passes didn’t count. No family either.
— LifeSiteNews.com (@LifeSite) October 24, 2019
On Monday, the jury ruled 11-1 against Jame’s father, Jeffrey Younger, in his fight against his ex-wife, Dr. Anna Georgulas, who wants to raise James as “Luna” and force Jeffrey to affirm that identity.
The case has garnered national headlines in the last 48 hours, with Texas Senator Ted Cruz calling it “horrific and tragic” while Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott announced he is launching an investigation.
The jury’s decision was that Mr. Younger should not be given sole managing conservatorship over James and his twin brother Jude. Rather, the current joint managing conservatorship should be replaced by a sole managing conservatorship. However, Judge Cooks ruled today that there will be a joint managing conservatorship over James.