# This case of a couple having their baby taken by the state is horrific. Why was this not huge news?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-case-of-a-couple-having-their-baby-taken-by-the-state-is-horrific-why-was-this-not-huge-news/603612>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 21, 2011, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-case-of-a-couple-having-their-baby-taken-by-the-state-is-horrific-why-was-this-not-huge-news/603612 "2011-11-21T05:30:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-case-of-a-couple-having-their-baby-taken-by-the-state-is-horrific-why-was-this-not-huge-news/603612/21 "2011-11-21T18:56:30Z")

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> [@Otara](#):
>
> Issues like neglect alone are often not considered to be grounds for losing parental rights, unless they also demonstrate an inability to address the concerns identified.

My kids were removed for neglect before I adopted them. Those were the only grounds. This did not take days or weeks. Their mom would show and interest in changing the situation for awhile and then fall back on her normal lifestyle.

Both the woman in the article and my kids’ birthmom did not improve the situation and lost their rights. Whether through inability or unwillingness, no child should be kept in a situation where their basic needs cannot be met.

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**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-case-of-a-couple-having-their-baby-taken-by-the-state-is-horrific-why-was-this-not-huge-news/603612/22 "2011-11-21T23:04:23Z")

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> [@astro](#):
>
> I’m thinking they are talking about wanting an actual full jury trial.

She might have had an argument, except that once she exhausted her administrative appeals (against the Arlington Domestic and Juvenile Relations Court and “the terminator”), she then lost in district court, then lost in appeals court, then had her appeal denied by the Surpeme Court. That’s three shots she had in the court system.

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**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-case-of-a-couple-having-their-baby-taken-by-the-state-is-horrific-why-was-this-not-huge-news/603612/23 "2011-11-21T23:59:37Z")

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> [@astro](#):
>
> I’m thinking they are talking about wanting an actual full jury trial.

Then neither the woman nor the writer knows what due process is- I’d be surprised if any state provided for jury trials in juvenile/family court . It’s not a criminal case or even really a civil case.

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**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-case-of-a-couple-having-their-baby-taken-by-the-state-is-horrific-why-was-this-not-huge-news/603612/24 "2011-11-22T01:23:19Z")

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> [@Ferret\_Herder](#):
>
> Read post #12 by **BigT** , which seems to sum it up nicely.

Thank you, and also you **BigT**. I don’t know how I missed that.

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