No. 20-618

Kelly Georgene Routten v. John Tyler Routten

Lower Court: North Carolina
Docketed: 2020-11-06
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (2)Response WaivedRelisted (2)
Tags: child-custody civil-rights constitutional-rights due-process family-law parental-rights standing state-courts state-intervention
Key Terms:
DueProcess
Latest Conference: 2021-02-19 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does due process require a finding that a parent is unfit before a State denies that parent all visitation with their child?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTION PRESENTED The Due Process Claus forbids States from removing a minor child from a parent’s custody without a hearing on that parent’s fitness. Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, 658 (1972) (“all [] parents are constitutionally entitled to a hearing on their fitness before their children are removed from their custody”). The North Carolina Supreme Court held, in conflict with twenty-eight other state courts of last resort, that no finding of unfitness is required because this “right is irrelevant in a_ custody proceeding between two natural parents.” Routten v. Routten, 372 N.C. 571, 577, 843 S.E.2d 154, 159 (2020). The question presented is: 1. Does due process require a finding that a parent is unfit before a State denies that parent all visitation with their child?

Docket Entries

2021-02-22
Rehearing DENIED.
2021-01-13
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/19/2021.
2021-01-05
2020-12-14
Petition DENIED.
2020-12-07
Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Parents, Inc. d/b/a ParentsUSA filed.
2020-12-07
Brief amicus curiae of The Justice Foundation filed.
2020-11-24
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/11/2020.
2020-11-04
Waiver of right of respondent John Tyler Routten to respond filed.
2020-11-02
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 7, 2020)

Attorneys

John Tyler Routten
Jill Schnabel JacksonJackson Family Law, Respondent
Jill Schnabel JacksonJackson Family Law, Respondent
Kelly Routten
Robert Daniel GibsonStam Law Firm, Petitioner
Robert Daniel GibsonStam Law Firm, Petitioner
National Association of Parents, Inc. d/b/a ParentsUSA
David Stanley DeLugasNational Association of Parents, Inc., Amicus
David Stanley DeLugasNational Association of Parents, Inc., Amicus
The Justice Foundation
Allan E. Parker Jr.The Justice Foundation, Amicus
Allan E. Parker Jr.The Justice Foundation, Amicus