got this in an email today.. hope it has not been posted..
Columbus, OH (AP) - A seven year old boy was at the center of a
Franklin
County courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over
who
should have custody of him. They 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 regulation requiring that family unity be
maintained to the highest 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 and 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 the child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to
the University of Michigan Wolverines, whom the boy firmly believes are
not capable of beating anyone.