Virginia Supreme Court Buys Time on Miller Case

by Staff
June 13, 2008

WASHINGTON, (christiansunite.com) -- The Virginia Supreme Court temporarily avoided locking horns with the state of Vermont today. The Commonwealth's highest court did not rule on the merits of a case which would have determined whether Virginia will respect the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Virginia's Marriage Affirmation Act (MAA), and Virginia's own constitution, or whether it will allow the state of Vermont to redefine marriage and family in the Commonwealth.

The Vermont Supreme Court had granted Janet Jenkins, the former lesbian partner of Lisa Miller, parental rights over Miller's daughter Isabella, even though Jenkins has no relationship to the little girl and is neither an adoptive nor a biological parent.

In 2006, Virginia decisively passed (with 57 percent of the vote) a constitutional amendment designed to protect families against this exact type of attack. That amendment specifies that Virginia "shall not create or recognize" "civil unions" or "same-sex marriages" from other states, nor can it recognize rulings which stem from such "unions" (like Vermont's custody ruling).

Today, the Virginia Supreme Court determined that since the MAA and Virginia's constitutional amendment were not before the court of appeals in this specific proceeding, it could not rule on those issues at this time.

Matt Barber, Policy Director for Cultural Issues with Concerned Women for America (CWA), said, "Although we had hoped for a more definitive ruling today on the key issues in question, we're optimistic that ultimately the state of Virginia will defend its laws, its constitution and the federal DOMA and tell Vermont to keep its 'civil unions' to itself. As these issues make their way back through the system, we're confident that ultimately God's natural design for marriage and family will prevail."

Jan Robey, State Director for CWA of Virginia, said, "Aside from the legal ramifications of this ruling, I am most concerned with a 6-year-old girl who is being exploited by 'gay' activists. What is the motivation behind this agenda? It has not been in the best interest of Isabella. What is best for Isabella is that she be raised in a Christian home by her biological mother."

Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy women's organization.