When James was born on July 1, 2008, his 18-year-old birth mother invoked Wisconsin’s safe haven law and walked away from James after bringing him into the world at a Milwaukee hospital. James was given the temporary first name of Taylor to go with Spfn-Doe, the standard last name given to children given up under safe haven laws. Two days after his birth, the baby temporarily named Taylor was placed with Stephanie and Ben Weiler, a married couple who on Friday welcomed Taylor, now named James Benjamin Weiler, into their family permanently through adoption.
James’ case is a perfect example of how safe haven laws like the one that’s been on Wisconsin’s books since 2001 are supposed to work, and as Judge Christopher Foley said during James’ adoption proceedings, it’s about time the Milwaukee County child welfare system made the news for something good, as opposed to something bad. After all, while the Weiler family is a success story from the Milwaukee County child welfare system, there are many more children whose stories don’t have a happy ending and whose families may not ever be as stable and loving as James Weiler’s.
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