Days away from her seventh birthday, a little girl named Emma Rose is currently trapped in Georgia’s foster care system, unable to reunite with the woman who has been her mother for almost a year — all because the mother is a lesbian. The prospective adoptive mother, Elizabeth Hadaway, was also sentenced to 10 days in jail earlier this month by a Wilkinson County Superior Court judge who refused to grant the adoption in part because “the child will have a long-term exposure to the homosexual parent’s lifestyle.”
The article talks a lot about the judge. Having practiced in front of Judge Parrott, I don’t think you’ll find a much finer or fairer judge. He’s a good man and good judge.
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Because being bounced around Georgia foster care system is soooo much better.
Sorry Erick, but this guy doesn’t sound like a good judge or even a good person. Taking a child away from the person who wants to be her mother is just cruel and for the stupid reason of “long-term exposure to the homosexual parent’s lifestyle.”
I don’t want my child to have to suffer long-term exposure to Republicans (that’s why they are banned in my house), but I don’t see me being successful in getting Republicans outlawed in this state as many here will think it’s a “stupid idea.”
Yes, it is and so is letting a child suffer in the foster care system when someone loves this child and wants to be her mother.
Bad judge.
What is bizarre about this story is that the child’s BIOLOGICAL mother is lesbian also. The biological mother fell upon hard times such that she could not support the child, and asked the adoptive mother to step in so she could be cared for properly.
By ordering the child to be returned to the biological mother, Judge Parrott is not preventing the child from being raised in a homosexual environment. Instead, he’s forcing a child into the care of one homosexual who can’t care for her, rather than another homosexual who could. Whose welfare is served by that? This is just a terribly wrong call.
What will be interesting is if Judge Parrott’s overzealousness results in firm legal advances for homosexuals in Georgia when this matter reaches the appellate or Supreme Court level. Parrot’s basic holding is that homosexual adoption is not possible because the legal protections afforded homosexuals are too ambiguous and murky. Sounds like a prime opportunity for a higher court to clarify them.
Am I missing something? Why was Elizabeth Hadaway sentenced to 10 days in jail?
Contempt of court, for not transferring the child back to the biological mother yet.
I have a moral problem with telling people that they must have a baby they don’t want or cannot care for and then limiting the amount of people who can give it a loving home.
As long as the person is willing to give a child a loving safe home I don’t care if they are homosexual or a Gators fan.
But the biological mother was also gay, correct. And she was unable to care for the child.
Demonbeck,
Surely to God you wouldn’t let a child be raised by a Gators fan…
Long term exposure to Florida Gators results in permanent narcissism and desire to dominate at EVERY GODD*MN sport under the sun.
Dingleberry,
Yeah, but they use YKK zippers on all those jeans shorts – ensuring that Erick remains employed.
He’s a good man and good judge.
That is unless you are gay, right Erick?
Why are we not calling out this activist judge for misapplying the Constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage?
Decaturguy, I too disagree with him, but he is a well respected judge who is not cavalier in his rulings.
That’s fair, Erick, so long as we acknowledge that there are good people who are also bigoted homophobes.
Decaturguy,
What is the difference in this judge hating gay people and you hating straight people?
Do what?
Never a more apt handle than dingleberry.
Where in the world do you get the idea that I hate straight people?
Oh great, THIS is how Wilkinson County gets on the map…
Honestly, how many of you could pick it out on an unlabeled outline map? I’m guessing Erick knows where it is. Bill should… Anyone else? Did anyone play GHSA A Basketball in the last few years?
On another note, the coming protests should be entertaining…. Gay Rights activists against rednecks…
Decaturguy,
There are good people who are bigoted homophobes.
Because you assume all straight are “bigoted homophobes” so, I assume all good gay people hate straight people.
Seriously Decaturguy, if all gay people are as full of vitriol as you are, then can you blame people out there for having a phobia towards them?
I thought that an unmarried live-in heterosexual couple would not be allowed to adopt in Georgia, so why should a gay couple who is shacking up?
Doug, I think that is at the heart of the issue here.
Hardly. Parrot is trying to hang his hat on an ambiguity in the paperwork. Hadaway listed her partner’s income on the application, because the form asked for “all household income”. However, since Hadaway’s partner is not a co-applicant and would have no legal ties to the child, Parrot argues that her income should not have been listed. It does strike him as particularly relevant that Hadaway’s own income is sufficient to qualify… he’s just trying to stick her with on a procedural issue.
You’re incorrect, Doug. There is ZERO problem with a single parent adopting a child, just because that single parent happens to have a heterosexual roommate. Things only get murky if the roommate tries to co-apply as the second parent. That is NOT even the case here… Hadaway is applying as a single parent by herself.
Who in the h*** released the name of this child? Hadaway? For what, her own self interest?
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I am of the understanding that any court procedure of a minor child in this situation(custody & DEFACS involvement) is kept confidential for the sake of the well being of the child.
Even if I’m wrong, there has to be a better way to resolve this than pounding away at it on here and Sovo.
I thought child of Anna Nicole stuff was bad, but this takes the cake!
And of course, the court can’t publicly speak of this.
And don’t tell me that only mentioning the child’s first names protects her. You will be splitting hairs.
Sorry Bill, but that could only begin to hold water if the biological mother wasn’t homosexual also. As it is, the judge is only choosing one lesbian mother over second lesbian mother… and he picked the one least able to provide support. Explain again how that’s in the best interest of this child?
Also, I know majority rules and all, but you need one hell of a bigger majority than 65-35 to banish a group completely and make them taboo. At least 65% of Georgians don’t like blacks, and yet they can adopt. Times are changing faster than you are keeping up with, and the days when 99.99% of people view homosexuals in the same way their view pedophiles are simply over… people holding to such a taboo perspective will only be further isolated from the mainstream over time.
Um…Decaturguy, helloooooo….I asked you a question:
Seriously Decaturguy, if all gay people are as full of vitriol as you are, then can you blame people out there for having a phobia towards them?
I am not full of vitriol and I do not hate straight people.
When did I ever say that “all straight are ‘bigoted homophobes’?” What I said was there are some good and decent people that just happen to also be homophobes, a point for which Erick even acknowledged.
I wish two lesbians would adopt me…
Check that…my wife has informed me that I don’t.
Bowersville, you are certainly correct that any court procedure involving a minor child SHOULD be kept confidential by law. However, the court records in Wilkinson County are NOT sealed, as they should be. Maybe someone should ask the Judge why this matter was heard in OPEN COURT and not in closed chambers…..just a thought.
The long term negative side effects of being raised by someone who is a practicing homosexual far outweigh any positives that could be gained by her immediate adoption by this person. Homosexuality was classified as a mental disorder as recently as 1971. The practice of it is inherently wrong. It is an undeniable fact that a man and a woman in marriage are the two best people to raise a child.
Blogger, It looks like the info came from Judge Trip in Bibb county, not the other judge in Wilkinson.
Possibly so, but initially, the case was heard in open court in Wilkinson County by Parrott. Judge Self’s hearing was not.
blogger,
Where do you see it as being in open court? From what I have read, everything about the case was thrown open to the public by Self and the plantiff.
Which is yet another thing that makes me think this is about the plantiff making a political point, and not having less concern for the child.
Maybe she is trying to make a political point, mabye not. Who really knows? After reviewing the court documents, I am certain she cares for this child more than anything else, and it is apparent that this child needs her mother. I just wonder what’s to happen in court the next go round.
Blog,
She had known her for less than a year, most of that time in the process of litigation of some sort. How could you be certain of anything regarding her fitness as a parent? Also, I think that hardly qualifies for the term “mother”.
She had KNOWN this child for several years, she had CUSTODY of this child for less than a year. Have you seen Dr. Gregory’s report concerning the regression of this child? I think if Ms. Hadaway can bring the child from a point to where she first was, to the point she was when she had custody of her, then not only should she qualify as a “mother” but also as a “nurturing, caring, loving mother.”
She has known this child for several years and allowed her to be negelcted by the mother to the point that she did not attend school or even learn how to read?! I don’t think that is a testiment to her favor.
Have you actually read Alicia Gregory’s (I left out the doctor part because she is not an MD) report, or are you just quoting a highlight from the order? The full report should be confidential. If so, please post a link to it, and let everyone read it, so we all can benefit from your secret knowledge.
I don’t think it’s been posted to the web yet, but will keep you updated on that issue. Thank you for the correction in that Ms. Gregory is not an M.D.- Someone in this whole matter chose her to evaluate the situation so I’m sure she is of some great importance.
Doug: How could Ms. Hadway prevent a mother from neglecting her child when she had no knowledge of the neglect itself until informed of it? She only learned of the neglect when the biological mother told her she was unable to care for the child. Is this your understanding or is there something different?
Faciamus Sez: “The long term negative side effects of being raised by someone who is a practicing homosexual far outweigh any positives that could be gained by her immediate adoption by this person”
And, you have documented evidence of this, or just a pile of non sequiters to babble outloud about?
Hey Blogger, Judge Self did not release the documents.
Blogger,
I only pointed it out that she was not a doctor because the article said that they brought in a “doctor”, which suggests a profession and not just an honorary title. Not to say that you would even want a medical doctor in that situation, but if they made such a mistake in one area, it’s not far fetched that it could permeate the article in others.
Anyway, I think our discussion is moot at this point. It is in the hands of the appellate court, where it should be, so my side won. I do not know who should have the kid, but I am not going to support or oppose someone’s ability to adopt solely on the grounds that she is gay or straight.
I only spoke up to defend the original judge, because I do not like witch burnings and rushes to judgment of easy to target villains., and parts of the women’s and Sovo’s claims are to the point of being caricatures of a cartoon villain.
Hey Erick. Please don’t that I was implying that Judge Self released the documents. I was just wondering why the case was heard in open court by Parrott and why the Wilkinson County file wasn’t sealed. I don’t see any fault in Self’s case.
Blogger, where is your evidence it was Wilkinson, from what I understand Judge Self quoted the sealed documents in his order, and is the reason why people know what was in the original (he quoted from it liberally).
Word spreads fast throughout Georgia I guess. Someone said they heard about this in Wilkinson County in court when it happend- not a party to this action might I add. Like you said, our discussion is moot at this point. We’ll just have to see what happens.
After seeing Erick’s latest post, I think she should be allowed to adopt the child in a part of Georgia more accepting of their curcumstances. But Ms. Hadaway and her lawyer need to spend time in jail for contempt.
But there is no contempt. Parrott ordered the child back to the biological mother. Hadaway took the child back to biological mother, (where custody reverted to natural mother, as ordered) child broke down and biological mother refused to take the child with her. I don’t see how she or her attorney (which to my knowledge is not representing her anymore) could be held in contempt of court.
The order, according to Erick’s summary was that custody would be granted to the county if the mother did not take custody within 10 days.
Do you actually believe there was any attempt to transfer custody of this child?
It looks like the judge made the mistake of believing Ms. Hadaway and her Lawyer had any
desire to follow the law.
In the end, it is the law abiding people that pay the price for actions of people like this Hadaway, as judges have to assume that everyone is going to have some kind of “angle” to avoid the law.
Yes Doug, I do believe there was an attempt to transfer custody.
Has anyone seen the article on the front page of the Macon Telegraph today? Any thoughts?
Read Judge Parrott’s order. Read the part about how the transfer was to occurr. There was no goof faith or continuous custody,
Hadaway is a manipulator, and the only reason you support her is because in your mind is because you want to believe in any dispute the gay person is always right.
If the roles were reversed, and Hadaway was a straight father who was ordered to give the girl back to a a lesbian foster mother, and performed the same sort of sham, you would be on the other side, and say he should be found in contempt.
It is typical of lefties.
Lefties? Ha, I admit, I have to laugh at that one. I myself am a straight female- never been a lesbian a day in my life. You are incorrect in thinking that you know what is in my mind. But don’t worry, its typical of closed-minded people.
talking to yourself blogger? I initially supported the adoption.
This woman is no hero, she is someone who uses a child for publicity and sympathy, when avenues that were more proper and less pubic were available. If a straight man had done this, you would be all up in arms and shouting for his lynching.
And, I never called you a lesbian, I called you a leftie. If it quacks like a duck, looks like a duck….etc.
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