Box Turtle Bulletin
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News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyDecember 29th, 2009
After a long and contentious custody battle between previously civilly united couple Lisa Miller and Janet Jenkins, a judge has awarded primary custody to Janet Jenkins. Miller was to turn over 6 7 year old Isabella to Jenkins on Friday, January 1, 2010.
Although the couple brought Isabella into the world together with the intention of raising her as theirs, after the separation Miller readopted a conservative religious faith and believed that this entitled her to thwart the law, break visitation agreements, and deny Jenkins her rights.
Miller was encouraged and supported in her decision but the political arm of conservative Christianity, appearing as a victim in Christian press and as a cause for fundraising appeals. Such stories often ignored the facts of the case, instead simply pitting a Born Again Christian against an Evil Homosexual trying to steal an Innocent Child.
But Miller’s bluster has run out. Although she is still appealing decisions, it now appears that courts are not going to find in her favor.
So she has disappeared. (Times Argus)
Miller’s attorneys filed a motion earlier this month asking Cohen to delay his order until an appeal in the Virginia court system — regarding whether that state needed to enforce the Vermont order — was decided.
But in a two-page decision issued by Cohen, the judge said Miller failed to meet the legal burden required to delay the order in part because she has not appeared in court nor spoken with her attorneys about the case for more than a month.
“Ms. Miller has not demonstrated that she is entitled to a stay. … Instead, it appears that Ms. Miller has ceased contact with her attorneys and disappeared with (Isabella). … Such conduct does not show that a stay is warranted,” Cohen wrote.
The whereabouts of Miller couldn’t be determined Monday. Miller’s principal lawyers in Orlando, Fla., could not be reached Monday afternoon.
We will see whether Miller shows up on Friday. Her counsel should advise her that failing to do so will be disastrous to her case. Should she fail to produce Isabella, she will not only be in contempt of court but she will be considered a suspect for kidnap.
Judges are not inclined to find sympathy with scofflaws and kidnappers. And even religious folk may find it challenging to believe that the best interest of the child is to be on the run.
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Priya Lynn
December 29th, 2009
Wayne Besen’s blog says Isabella is 7 – is she 6 or 7?
Either way, this attempt to deny a child access to one of her parents has gone on far too long. May justice prevail as soon as possible.
Timothy Kincaid
December 29th, 2009
She was born April 16, 2002, so that makes her seven.
David Farrell
December 29th, 2009
many fundamentalists believe that given the choice between following civil law and “God’s law” they will chose “God’s law”. I am not a betting man, because I stink at it, but if I were I would bet that she won’t show on Friday.
GreenEyedLilo
December 29th, 2009
Holy s***. I am not at all surprised by this. I will only be surprised if they show up on Friday. If Lisa Miller had treated Janet Jenkins the way women normally treat men they’ve grown apart from, it would have been so much better for everyone involved, including Isabella. My heart is breaking. I really, really, really hope this can end well. Right now, I’m not seeing it.
Trovore
December 29th, 2009
What you need to remember is that as soon as there is evidence that she has committed a transgression (kidnapping) the religious right will dump her. The same people who were her most ardent supporters will turn on her for fear of bad press. The alternative would be even more delicious for our side. That being: the religious right would whole-heartedly support her and her seditious acts. Hopefully they do so the ring leaders can be rounded up and thrown in prison.
Emily K
December 29th, 2009
Check Debbie Thurman’s house.
Priya Lynn
December 29th, 2009
I think you’re wrong Trovore, the religious right will rationalize the kidnapping and say “god’s” law supercedes man’s law and activist judges forced Miller to take this action.
Elise
December 29th, 2009
Miller really is doing everything her power to screw that poor child up for life, isn’t she?
I’m inclined to agree that Miller fleeing at this point will probably only endear her to the religious right (“Godly woman makes daring midnight escape to protect her child from the clutches of a fascist homosexualist government!”– she’s like Corrie Ten Boom and Dietrich Bonhoeffer put together!) The religious right has proven that it doesn’t care whether you break a few laws or violate normal ethical behavior as long as you maintain the correct beliefs and behaviors where it matters: in the culture wars.
Regan DuCasse
December 29th, 2009
If religious conservatives REALLY believed that ‘god’s law’ trumps ‘man’s law’, they would remember Christ’s commandment of treating a person the way THEY want to be treated and they wouldn’t hide behind the very Constitution they want gay people to be excluded from.
Especially when it comes to ‘1st amendment rights’, there are no first amendment rights specified in the Bible.
On those two things alone, the bs is piled very high.
Trovore
December 30th, 2009
“I think you’re wrong Trovore, the religious right will rationalize the kidnapping and say “god’s†law supercedes man’s law”
/shrug. I hope they say exactly that. Furthermore I hope they start to act on those traitorous sentiments and further alienate the American people.
Brad
December 30th, 2009
Surely there are similar precedents to draw upon involving hetro couples. Namely, situations where the mother’s male partner/husband is not the biological father, and has not adopted the child, but at some point had a supportive relationship to the child as a stepfather.
I can think of anecdotal cases involving people I’ve known (in which case the former stepfather has no rights), but I’m not a legal scholar so I’d appreciate any info on the matter. Anyone?
JeffreyRO5
December 30th, 2009
It is amusing to see these conservative groups latch on to someone who turns out to be a train wreck: Carrie Prejean as spokesmodel for the inappropriately named National Organization for Marriage (which actually is just against same-sex marriage, not for marriage) and now this Miller woman who has apparently kidnapped a child. What crazy things being a “Christian” does to the mind!
Christine
December 30th, 2009
Don’t forget that Mat Staver (of Jerry Falwell’s) Liberty Counsel – Staver was a keynote speaker at the 2009 NARTH conference- was Lisa Miller’s attorney, and that PFOX and Liberty Counsel co-sponsored this “Protect Isabella” campaign.
I wonder if Staver would approve of Miller running off with Isabella instead of complying with the law.
Debbie Thurman
December 30th, 2009
“PFOX and Liberty Counsel co-sponsored this “Protect Isabella†campaign.”
Says who?
TJMcFisty
December 30th, 2009
Making an assumption based on the web page:
http://protectisabella.com/links.php
Debbie Thurman
December 30th, 2009
“Making an assumption based on the web page:”
An incorrect one. I won’t repeat the old adage about assumptions.
Richard W. Fitch
December 30th, 2009
Protecting Children By Making Them The Centerpiece of Anti-Gay Campaigns
Submitted by Kyle on April 7, 2009 – 3:25pm http://www.rightwingwatch.org/category/groups/protect-isabella-coalition
TJMcFisty
December 31st, 2009
It’s a fair one, Debbie. The links are there implying endorsement and possible sponsorship.
nomasfdrqs
December 31st, 2009
There are many nations on earth without extradition treaties with the United States. There are even more whose only treaties operate under “Dual Criminality” provisions, and since “Parental Kidnapping” is not an offense in the majority of nations, Extradition is impossible. Hopefully, Lisa and Isabella are safe in one of these countries as we speak.
nomasfdrqs
December 31st, 2009
As for Trovore’s pathetic insane rantings, I really hope that he/she/it realizes that the overwhelming majority of people are not on your side. The Constitution doesn’t allow the “rounding up” of members of the “religious right” no matter how much his Hitlerian fantasies wish otherwise.
Neither does the Second Amendment Veto.
----
December 31st, 2009
“Hopefully, Lisa and Isabella are safe in one of these countries as we speak.”
Safe? SAFE? How the hell can a child be safe with a mentally-unstable, brainwashed woman like Lisa? Go back to FreeRepublic, imbecile.
Emily K
December 31st, 2009
nomasfdrqs just lost the argument – he invoked Godwin’s Law:
Well, nice try, thanks for playing, anyway.
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