Local

Supreme Court ruling on gay adoption has local impact

In a unanimous vote, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Alabama Supreme Court’s refusal to recognize a lesbian’s adoption from another state.

Jacksonville adoption attorney Michael Shorstein said it’s a decision that will affect Florida families.

As many as 100 families come through Shorstein & Kelly’s St. Nicholas office every year. Now they can rest assured that their adoptions will be recognized in any state.

“I was ecstatic,” said Shorstein.

The Supreme Court ruled that each state must recognize gay parents’ adoptions from other states, even if it’s not legal in their state.

“It upholds the Constitution – the full faith and credit aspect,” said Shorstein.

He said it doesn’t just apply to gay parents.

“For Florida families – and not just gay families, but any family – any family that has a judgment, whether it’s a marriage judgment, an adoption judgment in Florida, if they go to another state, they know that that sister state must recognize the judgment,” said Shorstein.

In his 27 years as an adoption attorney, he said it’s a problem his clients have all the time.

“This was about a parent not being able to see their child. There’s no more important issue than a parent-child relationship. That’s why I believe the issue came to fruition at this time,” said Shorstein.

The Supreme Court did not even hear oral arguments on either side before making its unanimous decision.