Michigan Judge Tells Lesbian Moms He Can't Help Until Supreme Court Rules

Two moms have been trying for a year to jointly adopt their children but a U.S. District Court judge has opted to wait even longer.

Lucas Grindley

Lucas Grindley is VP and Editorial Director for Here Media, which is parent company to The Advocate. His Twitter account is filled with politics, Philip Glass appreciation, and adorable photos of his twin toddler daughters.

Read Full Bio

Lucas Grindley

March 07 2013 12:26 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

lucasgrindley

We need your help
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.

A Michigan couple who wants to jointly adopt their three children was told by a judge today, according to Detroit Free Press, that he won't consider helping until the Supreme Court rules this June.

The court is considering the constitutionality of Proposition 8 in California and the federal Defense of Marriage Act and hearings in both cases are the end of March, with a ruling expected in June.

In the case of the Michigan couple, April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, they say the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause should invalidate a ban on same-sex marriage that voters approved in 2004 and which prevents them from being recognized as a couple during adoption proceedings.

"I think its worth the wait," U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman said, according to Detroit Free Press. "I don't know what the Supreme Court is going to do."

In the video below from MLive and then another from the Free Press, the women react to the judge's ruling.