MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) 鈥� Santa may have fewer eyes in homes this Christmas season after a Georgia judge 鈥� jokingly 鈥� banned the Elf on the Shelf.
Cobb County Superior Court Chief Judge Robert Leonard on Twitter Thursday banishing these elves.
鈥淭ired of living in Elf on the Shelf tyranny? Not looking forward to the Elf forgetting to move and causing your kids emotional distress? I am a public servant and will take the heat for you. My gift to tired parents,鈥� Leonard tweeted.
According to the holiday tradition, the elves hide in homes for weeks before Christmas and report back to Santa on who's been naughty and nice. The elf dolls are supposed to move to a different location each night.
鈥淚nexplicably, Elves sometimes move and don't move overnight. When those Elves do not move, it leaves our children of tender years in states of extreme emotional distress," Leonard wrote in his order.
He recalled a 鈥渉orrific incident鈥� in his own home when 鈥渢hree children were sent to school in tears, with one child being labeled an 鈥楨lf Murderer鈥� and accused of making the elf 鈥榣ose his magic.鈥欌��
Given the risks of such emotional damage 鈥� and supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic 鈥� the judge wrote that he had no choice but to banish the elves from Cobb County.
He did make an allowance for parents who don't feel overwhelmed by the 鈥淓lf on the Shelf tyranny,鈥� writing in his tweet: 鈥淚f you love your elf, keep your elf. No contempts.鈥�
The Associated Press
