Fla. Bar support in gay adoption case upheld
(Tallahassee, Fl.) The state Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to the Florida Bar’s right to oppose the state’s ban on gay adoption.
Liberty Counsel, a faith-based legal group, had asked the high court to prohibit the bar’s Family Law Section from filing a friend of the court brief in an …
Tags: Adoption Case, Bar Gay, Faith, Family Law Section, Florida Bar, Friend Of The Court, Gay Adoption, Legal Group, Liberty Counsel, State Supreme Court, Tallahassee FlGays win in FL adoption case
A FL appeals court ruled that the state must recognize out-of-state adoptions by same-sex couples.
Tags: Adoption Case, Appeals Court, Gays, Same Sex Couples, State AdoptionsSupreme Court takes up dispute over endorsement of gay adoption by Florida Bar’s family-law section
State Supreme Court justices critically questioned both sides today in a dispute over whether the family-law section of the Florida Bar should be allowed to legally endorse adoption for gay couples. A circuit judge in Miami threw out the statute banning adoption by gays but the case is headed for the Supreme Court. The Bar itself has not taken a position but its family-law section sought to file a “friend of the court” brief supporting the circuit court ruling. Lawyers supporting the statute objected — saying the Bar shouldn’t be using compulsory dues paid by all lawyers to fight on one side of a controversial issue.
Tallahassee attorney Barry Richard said the family section is a voluntary association and that its lawyer members have a right to take positions. But Matt Staver, representing the conservative Liberty Counsel, said Bar rules forbid lobbying on either side of a hot topic.
The attorneys argued over the distinction between lobbying the Legislature and filing a legal brief in court. They also disagreed about whether a voluntary section of the bar is restrained by the same rules applying to the full bar.
Chief Justices Peggy Quince and Justices Barbara Pariente, Fred Lewis, Charles Canady and Ricky Polston pressed Richard and Staver on the legal distinctions.
Pariente said that if the prohibition on pursuing controversial, divisive issues had been interpreted as a ban 50 years ago, the Bar could not have taken sides on racial integration. Lewis said he doesn’t think much of “friend of the court” briefs, because they are usually partisan advocacy rather than independent guidance on the law, and that the public doesn’t make a distinction between a section of the Bar and the whole Bar itself.
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/04/supreme-court…
Anti-gay group allowed to enter Arkansas adoption case
(Little Rock, Arkansas) A judge has ruled that that a lawsuit challenging an Arkansas law banning unmarried couples from becoming foster or adoptive parents can proceed - and that the conservative group behind the measure can present arguments in the case.
County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza dismissed a motion by Arkansas …
Tags: Adoption Case, Adoptive Parents, Anti Gay, Arkansas Adoption, Arkansas Law, Circuit Judge, Conservative Group, Gay Adoption, Gay Group, Little Rock Arkansas, Piazza, Unmarried CouplesAnti-gay group allowed to enter Arkansas adoption case
(Little Rock, Arkansas) A judge has ruled that that a lawsuit challenging an Arkansas law banning unmarried couples from becoming foster or adoptive parents can proceed - and that the conservative group behind the measure can present arguments in the case.
County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza dismissed a motion by Arkansas …
Tags: Adoption Case, Adoptive Parents, Anti Gay, Arkansas Adoption, Arkansas Law, Circuit Judge, Conservative Group, Gay Adoption, Gay Group, Little Rock Arkansas, Piazza, Unmarried CouplesAnti-gay group allowed to enter Arkansas adoption case
(Little Rock, Arkansas) A judge has ruled that that a lawsuit challenging an Arkansas law banning unmarried couples from becoming foster or adoptive parents can proceed - and that the conservative group behind the measure can present arguments in the case.
County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza dismissed a motion by Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel to dismiss the suit. Piazza then accepted an application by the Arkansas Family Council to enter the case.
The council was behind the successful ballot measure past last November that bans unmarried couples from adopting or fostering. The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas filed suit, challenging the constitutionality of the law on behalf of a dozen families, some straight, some gay.
See Anti-gay group allowed to enter Arkansas adoption case
365Gay.com
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/03/anti-gay-grou…
Florida AG prepares appeal in gay adoption case
(Tallahassee, Florida) The Florida Attorney General’s office is preparing to appeal a ruling by a Miami judge striking down the state ban on adoptions by gays and lesbians.
Florida Assistant Attorney General Valerie Martin said the appeal would be filed on behalf of the state Department of Children & …
Tags: Adoption Attorney, Adoption Case, Adoptions, Amp, Assistant Attorney General, Florida Adoption, Florida Ag, Florida Assistant, Florida Attorney General, Florida Gay, Gay Adoption, Gay Florida, Gays And Lesbians, Miami Judge, State Ban, State Department, Tallahassee Florida, Valerie Martin
