Lisa Miller and her partner, Janet Miller-Jenkins, exchanged vows in a civil union ceremony four years ago in Vermont. Through artificial insemination, Lisa conceived and gave birth to Isabella in Virginia in 2002.
In 2003, Lisa adopted an exgay sexual identity, took Isabella and fled to Virginia, where she found a judge willing to violate Vermont custody orders. From Vermont’s perspective, Lisa is now a law-breaking fugitive who has turned her daughter into a political pawn in the culture wars. (Previous XGW coverage. Washington Blade article, Nov. 26.)
Last week, Vermont Family Court Judge William Cohen named Janet as a legal parent of Isabella. This week, The Winchester Star in Virginia reports that Frederick County continues to ignore the Vermont rulings.
This is going to make for an interesting “full faith and credit” (FFC) clause case, when it goes up on appeal in Virginia.
Raj:
It could, but remember, VA is for haters; you know how the appeal will go. Their Supremes will either decline to hear or rule the same way as the appellate. Could get interesting on the Federal level if they go that way, but unless the VT mom is made of money that’s not an option. Now, if a PI took the kid back to VT… hmmm.