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Subject
What's going on in Appleton?
APPLETON(AP) - A seven-year-old boy was at the center of a Appleton, Wis.
courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who
should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his
parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping
with child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be
maintained to the degree possible. The boy surprised the court when he
proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly
refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with
his grandparents, the boy cried out that they also beat him. After
considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that
domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took
the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have
custody of him.
After two recesses to check legal references and confer with child
welfare
officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Green Bay Packers,
whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.
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