The Supreme Court has taken up the
case for grandparents' rights. This case deals with the emotional issue
of whether or not grandparents should be allowed to see their grandchildren
when the children's' parents object. Until Tuesday, September 28, the Supreme
Court had stayed out of the issue, which is both highly controversial and
usually governed by state custody laws. At this time, all 50 states give
grandparents a right to seek visitation of grandchildren when parents object,
but only after a divorce or the death of a parent. The Washington state
court deemed that the law interfered with parents' "fundamental right"
to decide how their children should be raised. The specific case for the
Supreme Court deals with grandparents Jenifer and Gary Troxel, from Anacortes,
Washington. Currently seeking to maintain ties with their two granddaughters
after the suicide of their son, the girls' father, they have been met with
the discontent of the children's' mother. The grandparents were granted
visitation rights in 1995. However, when the mother appealed to the Supreme
Court, the appeal was decided in her favor. The case is due to be heard
by the Court in January, and should be decided by next summer.
We are interested in hearing your opinions on this highly controversial and emotional issue. Please use our e-mail link to send us your opinions on this article. Unless otherwise requested, your responses may be posted on the internet for all to read. Please let us know if you do not want your thoughts posted on the internet, and we will be sure not to post them.
1. If you were a judge on the supreme court, how would you decided the case based on the above evidence? Would you allow grandparents to have some legal rights to their grandchildren?
2. Do you think that the grandparents involved in this case have done the right thing in bringing their problem up for legal action? Is the emotional stress and family turmoil worth visitation rights?
3. What role do your grandparents have in your life? Do
you think it is a worthwhile and invaluable one, one worth taking to the
supreme court to save? Describe something your grandparents have given
you that is invaluable to your life, if anything.
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