Douglas County District Judge Jean Shepherd, will step down in January. Shepherd was the first woman judge in Douglas County.

It was a happy ending.

Like so many Douglas County children whose cases District Judge Jean Shepherd has handled during her long career on the bench, two girls had their time in Shepherd’s courtroom come full circle Friday.

Shepherd in her

Judge Jean Shepherd held her final adoption proceeding Friday before she stepped away from the bench to retire. After all the paperwork was finalized, Judge Shepherd invited Monica O'Connell, 5, to sit in the judge's chair. Monica's case and another girl's adoption case were the last heard by Shepherd.

final hearing as a judge before retirement finalized the adoptions of Jasmine June Hawks, 11, and Monica Kate O’Connell, 5.

“I’ve known about you for so long,” Shepherd said to Monica during the hearing. “And this is a wonderful, happy day.”

The judge had presided over the Lawrence girls’ cases in the past when the state filed child-in-need-of-care cases, and on Friday she was there to award custody to new parents for each of the girls.

Shepherd was Douglas County’s first female judge when she was appointed in 1984, and she has presided over the county’s family court since 1994. Barbara Kay Huff will take her place on the bench next week.

In front of a packed courtroom that included some of Shepherd’s family, the judge Friday finalized the adoption of Jasmine first and then Monica.

She invited the girls individually to sit in her place on the bench to pose for photos. Monica grabbed a pen in an effort to look official.

“Maybe you’ll be sitting in one of these some day,” Shepherd said.

Monica’s new parents, Matthew and Dorothy O’Connell of Lawrence, said the adoption ceremony was special for two reasons. For one, they have the joy of a new daughter. And they were glad Shepherd presided.

“It’s certainly a great honor to be a part of her retirement process,” Matthew said.

Jasmine’s parents, Nancy Ellen and Tammi Hawk of Franklin County, said the ceremony was thrilling because Jasmine now “completes our family.”

Having Shepherd involved was fitting, they said.

“It was the perfect closure,” Nancy said.