The N.C. Court of Appeals has ruled this morning that Sen. Julia Boseman, D-New Hanover, is a legal parent of the child born to her former domestic partner.
The unanimous ruling from a three-judge appellate panel blocks the former partner, Melissa Jarrell, from trying to have Boseman’s adoption of the 6-year-old voided.
The ruling avoids dealing with the legality of “same-sex adoptions.”
We note that both parties have made extensive arguments related to the same-sex nature of their former relationship and whether our State and its agencies sanction adoptions by same-sex couples. While acknowledging that such issues are matters of great public interest and of personal significance to Boseman and Jarrell, we emphasize that the specific nature of the parties? relationship or marital status was not relevant to resolution of the instant appeal. The same result would have been reached had the parties been an unmarried heterosexual couple. While Chapter 48 does not specifically address same-sex adoptions, these statutes do make clear that a wide range of adoptions are contemplated and permitted, so long as they protect the minor?s ?needs, interests, and rights.?
You’ll find all of today’s appellate rulings here.
