Mediate Michigan

The U.S. Supreme Court today let stand decisions made by the Virginia Court of Appeals and a lower court that require that child custody orders from a Vermont court must be complied with in a long-running custody dispute over a child born during the civil union of two Vermont women.

The case was heard in Virginia because the biological mother, Lisa Miller, moved here after the couple separated and asked a Virginia Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court to nullify visitation arrangements for the non-biological mother, Janet Jenkins, as set forth by the Vermont Family Court. The ACLU of Virginia and the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund represent Jenkins in Virginia.

Lisa Miller initially filed a case in a Vermont court, which ruled that Miller’s former partner, Janet Jenkins, should have visitation with the child. Jenkins had acted as the child’s parent since her birth. Miller refused to comply with that order, and instead filed a new action in a Virginia court.

via Court refuses to intervene in interstate custody case | Augusta Free Press.