Abused Dallas boy allowed to chose new guardians

[Sawz]

A seven year old boy was at the center of a Dallas County 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 cus...tody to his aunt, in
keeping with child custody law and regulation requiring that family
unity be maintained to the highest degree reasonably 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 said 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
Dallas Cowboys professional football team, whom the boy firmly
believes are not capable of beating anyone.
[signature]