Legal Commentary

Virginia Supreme Court: Vermont ruling stands in lesbian custody case
"The Virginia Supreme Court says that a Vermont court's ruling should stand in a child visitation dispute between two former lesbian partners." The Vermont court ruled that the non-biological former lesbian partner has custody rights in opposition to the wishes of the natural mother.

Trial on Thursday: ADF represents biological mom opposing parental rights for former lesbian partner in Montana
Alliance Defense Fund Senior Legal Counsel Austin R. Nimocks will argue before the Missoula County Fourth Judicial District Court on behalf of a mother who is asking the court to reject visitation and parental rights demanded by a woman not biologically or legally related to her children.

VA Court Rules That Vermont Should Decide Custody in Lesbian Case
The Virginia Court of Appeals ruled today that Virginia has no say in a custody dispute between former lesbian partners who used to reside in Vermont. This is a very sad case where one mom enlisted the help of a conservative anti-gay group to deny visitation rights to the non-biological mom and has dragged on for some time...

Virginia Court of Appeals Hands Down Victory for Parental Rights
In a victory for parents' rights, the Virginia Court of Appeals issued a 3-0 decision rejecting the so-called "de facto" or "psychological" parent doctrine. In Stadter v. Siperko the court refused to grant visitation to a former same-sex partner over the objections of the child?s biological mother.

Strange Bedfellows in Lesbian Custody Case
"Dogs and cats, living together...mass hysteria!" Anyone who has ever even thought about taking the LSAT knows that many legal issues are matters of categorization. When the law doesn't quite know how to categorize something, all heck breaks loose...

"High court upheld child custody rights of non-biological parent"
"High court upheld child custody rights of non-biological parent": The Virginian-Pilot provides a news update that begins, "The Virginia Supreme Court has upheld a lower state court decision that grants some custody rights to the non-biological parent in a legal dispute between two women who jointly parented a child in a past lesbian relationship...

Gay Marriage Laws
Where same sex couples can marry

Cumulative Voting
Protecting minority shareholder interests

The Civil Rights Act of 1871
Law bans discrimination enacted under color of state law

State Will Statutes
State Differences in Last Will and Testament Checklist

Discrimination
Federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability

Heart of Atlanta v United States
Supreme Court Decision: Civil Rights Act Protected by Interstate Commerce Clause

State of Virginia
$11 million settlement reached in Virginia Tech massacre.

Personal Injury
Appeals Court Upholds Congressional Legislation

Rally Rights
Gettysburg Borough awards arrested protester $22,500 civil rights settlement.

West Virginia Child Advocate Office Faces Class Action over Child Support
West Virginia Child Advocate Office Faces Class Action over Child Support

Civil / Human Rights
alleging violations of basic human and civil rights.

Exploding iPod Touch
Mother of Injured Boy Sues Apple