Posted on 05/15/2006 11:54:28 AM PDT by Abathar
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court is taking a pass on a Washington state case about the rights of a gay parent.
The high court has refused to stop a lesbian from seeking parental rights to a child she helped raise with her partner.
Justices might have used the case to clarify child custody disputes in nontraditional families. But they declined without comment.
The Washington state Supreme Court said Sue Ellen Carvin is a "de facto parent" and could pursue parental rights with a girl who is now 11 years old.
The girl's biological mother, Page Britain, said that could "pave the way for children to have an unlimited and ever-changing number of parents."
Carvin and Britain lived together for 12 years. Britain was artificially inseminated and gave birth in 1995. They raised the daughter together for six years. Carvin stayed home, and the girl called her "Mama." The girl called Britain "Mommy."
Britain and Carvin split. Britain married the sperm donor and barred Carvin from seeing the girl.
Carvin sued in November 2002 in King County Superior Court in Seattle.
A Scottsdale, Ariz., lawyer who worked on the case, Jordan Lorence with the Alliance Defense Fund for traditional families, said the U.S. Supreme Court will eventually have to settle various de-facto parent rulings from different states.
He said the Washington state Supreme Court decision left a huge mess because it allows a number of unrelated people -- such as nannies or baby sitters -- to seek parental status.
De Facto becomes De Jure.
This is quite the twist. Atleast she saw the light and raised her daughter in a normal household.
Family law cases are almost always state issues, so the USSC leaving it alone seems correct.
I'm not even sure the US Supreme court would have jurisdiction (jurisdiction given by Congress).
Note, this is not a comment on the wisdom of the lower state courts.
The cat is out of the bag. What a mess this will be. I hope the homosexuals are happy now. Too bad the children will be the ones who suffer.
Thus becoming De Mess.
If they started taking these family cases, the next nominee should be Judge Judy.
Pretty much.
Who?
I thought Harriet Miers was Judge Judy?
I wonder if Alito and Roberts voted to pass on this case? I don't think both of them are moderates.
Nobody seems to think that these kids are being deprived of nature's natural gift of a mother and a father.
This woman raised this child for 6 years. Then the relationship was terminated, the mother married the father, and the child was told "this is the way it is". How horrible. It's like the kid is a rag doll, dragged here and there. I can't imagine her growing up with any faith in human relationships.
There is absolutely no way to do really right by this child at this point.
They can, however, read the grant of jurisidiction which says "not family law disputes."
This is a state issue to screw up as the state sees fit.
This is the part of the story that will drive the liberals nuts. One of the lesbians went straight.
So will Angelina Jolie's old girlfriend harrass her and Ben?
Are "Live-In" boyfriends "partners" or do only Gays have that right?
This is a matter for the states, not the federal courts.
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