Trial courts aren’t usually the place where one finds warmth and happiness.

But we found it today and we were glad to have witnessed it.

Some friends of ours — a young couple — adopted a little boy this morning in a Randall County Court-at-Law courtroom in Canyon, Texas. The judge issued the oath that instructed them to tell “nothing but the truth” in answering questions.

They did as the judge instructed. Then the judge declared that the little boy is now a member of this lovely young family, which includes a big brother.

Courtrooms so often are the scene of misery and pain. Criminal defendants stand trial for their lives. Some of them are delivered justice and sent away to prison, causing grief for their families. Those who are acquitted are cheered by such a result, but the victims of the deed they allegedly perpetrated are left to tend to their own ongoing misery.

Civil litigants cause — and receive — their share of pain as well. Only one side can “win” in such a case. The other side loses and, well, their anger continues to fester.

Adoption is another breed of creature. The parties who stand before the judge are there to make themselves whole. Indeed, this morning a young man — an adult — was formally adopted by another couple. His happiness, and theirs, was evident as they walked out of the courtroom.

So it was with our friends. The little boy now has a new last name. The judge came down from behind his bench for some picture-taking.

We all gravitated into the hall where the family posed for more pictures.

A deputy prosecutor with the Criminal District Attorney’s office walked by. He and I are acquainted. We shook hands. He asked, “What are you doing here?” I told him we were there to attend an adoption hearing.

“That’s the only good thing that comes out of these courtrooms,” he said with a smile.

It’s not the “only good thing,” but the proceeding we witnessed this morning certainly brightened our day.