If this isn’t the cutest thing we’ve seen in forever!
Judge Richard Dinkins, a Tennessee State judge, swore in new lawyer, Juliana Lamar, while bouncing her one year old baby on his hip.
Lamar is a graduate of the Belmont University College of Law and a former clerk of Judge Dinkins in the Tennessee Court of Appeals. The young lawyer finally graduated and when it came time to take her oath, Judge Dinkins suggested that she involve the baby, who was born while Lamar was in law school.
“On the day of my swearing-in, right before we began, Judge [Dinkins] said he wanted Beckham to take part in the moment. And I am so glad he did – because to have my son take part in one of the greatest moments of my life was truly a blessing,” Lamar told BuzzFeed.
One of Lamar’s law school colleagues took to Twitter to share the video of the judge administering the oath with baby Beckham on his hip.
Y’all. Judge Dinkins of the Tennessee Court of Appeals swore in my law school colleague with her baby on his hip, and I’ve honestly never loved him more. pic.twitter.com/kn0L5DakHO
— Sarah Martin (@sarahfor5) November 9, 2019
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Since Martin shared the video, thousands have viewed it, applauding the judge for his good gesture and Lamar on her new achievement as a lawyer and a mom.
The new mom said she could not have made it without her husband Javon, who serves in the army at a nearby base. She said it was rough trying to finish school after giving birth, mainly because of her school’s strict policies regarding how many classes a student could miss. Just a week after having her son via a cesarean birth, Lamar had to show up for classes.
“The pressure I felt was horrible and I hope it has led my law school to rethink its policies for future mothers. I understand having a child during law school is often a choice – however, as young female professionals, there is not a perfect time for us to have children,” Lamar said.
She also noted that she could not have done it without the support, mentorship and motivation of Judge Dinkins. Lamar spoke on his influence on her saying, “Judge Dinkins has also been a guiding light during my legal career. When I was 9 months pregnant, the day before I found out I needed to be induced, Judge Dinkins spoke on the importance of voting at an event I hosted as the president of my school’s Black Law Students Association. During this event, Judge Dinkins reminded me of how proud he was of me and that he knew I would do great things, even with a baby in tow.”
Congratulations Juliana! And a huge shout out to Judge Dinkins!