US News
Surrogate asks Supreme Court to halt ruling granting parental rights to intended parents
A surrogate has petitioned the Supreme Court over a custody dispute involving a newborn with heart defects, according to Fox News.
The short version
- Attorneys for surrogate McKenna West filed an emergency application asking Justice Elena Kagan to temporarily stay a Los Angeles court ruling that recognized the intended parents as the child's legal parents.[Fox News]
- The infant was born in Texas with hypoplastic left heart syndrome after West declined the intended parents' request to end the pregnancy.[Fox News]
- A Texas judge subsequently upheld the California decision and removed West from the custody case on September 2.[Fox News]
- The Supreme Court must now decide whether to temporarily block the California court order.[Fox News]
Key facts
- Attorneys for surrogate McKenna West submitted an emergency application to Justice Elena Kagan to temporarily block a Los Angeles court ruling naming the intended parents as the legal parents.[Fox News]
- The baby was born in Texas on August 12 with hypoplastic left heart syndrome following West's refusal of the intended parents' request to terminate the pregnancy.[Fox News]
- West's lawyers stated she was warned that carrying the pregnancy to term could lead to over $250,000 in financial penalties.[Fox News]
- A Texas judge upheld the California parental ruling and dismissed West from the case on September 2.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unknown whether Justice Elena Kagan or the Supreme Court will grant the emergency stay to pause the California ruling.[Fox News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.