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.
I find that unbelievable. She may or may not be currently having sex with other females, but being married to a "sperm donor" doesn't make her straight.
I see the S.C. has the same testicles as the Republican leadership ... NONE!
Depends on how the sperm was donated in the first place, I suppose.
Standing by the conservative principle of limiting the jurisdiction of federal courts, even when you hate the lower-court decision, means "no balls?"
Huh.
Not in my opinion. She either likes to have sex with women or not. Bi-sexual females are still not straight.
The Supreme Court doesn't have jurisdiction to hear domestic relations cases unless the case also raises a tort or contract claim or, of course, unless it involves a Constitutional right (which is how the Court justified hearing Griswold, Loving, Eisenstadt, and even Roe).
I am against gay adoptions or gay "parenting" but - atleast at this time - this wasn't a case the Court should have granted cert. We don't want activist judges either, right?
"Britain married the sperm donor". Translation: "Britain married the father."
The legalities of procreation might be simplified if "donating sperm" always meant that the "donor" would have have equal legal rights and financial responsibilities with respect to offspring that resulted.
Who knows? It might lead to a rebound of "heterosexual marriage".
True conservatives don't, in any case. Not sure about some folks around here, though.
Fully believable. But that part of the story won't be pursued, for fear of the gay backlash against truth.
Based on what? This story only please, it is the subject.
Only if you cohabit with an unlimited and ever-changing number of people, for multi-year stretches, while encouraging your child to call them "Mama" or "Papa". The rest of us are unaffected by this ruling.
We don't want activist judges either, right?,
True conservatives don't, in any case. Not sure about some folks around here, though.
I agree. Then the S.C. should take the case and say it belongs to the states. But to leave it in limbo, settles nothing. You know it will be brought up again and again like abortion issues.
So is emminent domain, the SCOTUS stuck its head up it ass so far on that one it now has to look out through its navel.
"One of the lesbians went straight.
I find that unbelievable."
You should read more about women and lesbianism. Not that uncommon.
Actually, the opinion was about THIS case. Make it believable it about THIS case.
"Make it believable it about THIS case."
You are probably right here. This serves as an example of one of the probelems with "sexual orientation" laws. One can claim ot be gay or straight and there is noy way to prove or disprove either.
Depends on how the sperm was donated in the first place, I suppose. "
Turkey baster.
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