Trial on Thursday: ADF represents biological mom opposing parental rights for former lesbian partner in Montana
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND MEDIA ADVISORY
May 21, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom
ADF attorney available to media following trial
in Montana parental rights case
WHO: ADF Senior Legal Counsel Austin R. Nimocks
WHAT: Opening arguments in trial regarding parental visitation rights in Maniaci v. Kulstad
WHEN: Thursday, May 22, at 8:30 a.m. MDT
WHERE: Missoula County Courthouse, 200 W. Broadway, Missoula
MISSOULA, Mont. — 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.
“The government should promote and encourage strong families. Undermining the rights of fit parents harms families and children,” said Nimocks. “A natural parent who has never been declared unfit as a parent has the right to prevent access to her children by legal strangers.”
Dr. Barbara Maniaci is attempting to stop a former same-sex partner, Michelle Kulstad, from obtaining visitation or parental rights to her two children. Kulstad has no legal relationship to the children, and her only current relationship with the children is through a court order against the wishes of Maniaci. Now married, Maniaci is being prevented from raising her children with her husband in the way they see fit, like every other parent.
Contrary to Montana law, a judge awarded parental rights to Kulstad, who continues to involve herself in various aspects of the children’s lives against Maniaci’s wishes. Nimocks will argue that the parental status should not have been granted and is contrary to Maniaci’s well-established constitutional rights.
A fact sheet is available on the lawsuit at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/ManiaciFactSheet.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
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[...] Around the country, courts are awarding parental rights to non-parents over the objections of natural parents. The most recent example of that can be seen in today’s ADF press release. See: Trial on Thurs.: ADF represents biological mom opposing parental rights for former lesbian partner i… [...]