Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginian-Pilot
The Virginia Supreme Court heard arguments this morning in a long-running custody battle over a 6-year-old girl and two women who entered into a civil union in Vermont but then later broke up.

Lisa Miller and Janet Jenkins were Virginia residents in 2000 when they traveled to Vermont to join in a civil union. Miller became pregnant through artificial insemination in 2001 and gave birth to a baby girl named Isabella the next year. The three moved to Vermont in 2002.

Miller and Jenkins separated about a year later, and Miller moved back to Virginia and filed for dissolution of their civil union.

Miller has been fighting efforts by Jenkins to maintain contact with Isabella. Courts in Vermont have ruled in Jenkins’ favor for shared custody. A lower court in Virginia granted sole custody to Miller, but its decision was overturned by an appeals court.

The Virginia Court of Appeals held that federal law requires each state to respect the child custody and visitation rulings of another state so that chaos will not erupt when a parent unhappy with a result runs to another state for a different ruling.

The case has become both a legal and political battle as Miller has sought support from anti-gay groups.

The outspoken anti-gay group, Concerned Women for America, held a "prayer rally" outside the Supreme Court in Richmond in support of what they call "traditional marriage."

Following the arguments, Lisa and her advocates said the child's future hangs in the balance. They said that Jenkins and her lawyers want Isabella to become "a political trophy of a homosexual agenda."

Jenkins's supporters said the issue has nothing to do with lesbian/gay civil unions -- just the right of a parent to have court custody and visitation orders issued in one state to be respected in all states, including Virginia.

The justices are expected to rule by June.

Full article: Va. high court hears arguments in custody case - politics | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Court to hear arguments in lesbian couple's child custody case | Virginian-Pilot