I spent all of last week in Family Court engaged in a particularly difficult custody trial. As the name implies, Family Court involves family disputes, custody, child support, and neglect and abuse proceedings. Most proceedings in Family Court-other than adoptions-are generally emotional gut wrenching cases.

During a break in my trial, I was sitting in the hallway working on testimony. I paused to look up for a moment and, sitting across from me I saw a woman crying. Unfortunately, this is a very typical sight in Family Court. I do not think she was aware that I was looking at her. As I was watching, I saw her wipe her eyes, put a smile on her face, and begin taking selfies. Stunned, I watched her take her selfies for a few moments and then went back to work.

 During the lunch break that day, my thoughts returned to that woman taking selfies in the courthouse. When did it become commonplace to document with pictures every moment in our lives, even the most difficult ones? Has the practice of taking selfies led to an emotional disconnection between people and the significance of where they are? Am I right in thinking there is something inheretently wrong in taking selfies in  certain places such as Family Court?