NH Father Fighting to Maintain Constitutional Rights in 'Replay' of Troxel v Granville

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Coalition for the Restoration of Parental Rights - NH Chapter
(603)394-7690
info@parentsright.org
March 27, 2001

NH Father Fighting to Maintain Constitutional Rights
in 'Replay' of Troxel v Granville

Arguing that parental rights are fundamental, constitution rights, a South Hampton, NH father is fighting to raise his children without governmental interference.
At issue is whether the state can force the father to give visitation to the maternal grandmother. The father convinced that his twin sons, age 6, are in very real danger because in the past the grandmother has allowed her drug addicted daughter to have contact with the twins during visitation in violation of a court order that the mother have no contact with the children. The father, who has sole legal and physical custody of his sons, is adamant that his former wife never have the opportunity to harm his sons again. The covert use of drugs and alcohol during his former wife's pregnancy, caused the twin boys to be developmentally disabled, with one son being permanently brain damaged. For the past 5 years the father has provided a good home, worked with doctors, therapists, teachers and most of all loved his sons in order to give them the very best chance at a normal, productive and happy life. He states, " I love my children dearly, I will not allow them to be put in obvious danger, twice my former mother-in-law has allowed her daughter to see my sons during her time with the boys. Several times in the past her daughter has threatened to kidnap the boys. If I allow myself to be fooled a third time, I would be a fool. Their mother drove them around while drunk one whole afternoon, that's how much danger we're talking about."
At the core of this fathers argument is the 14th amendment to the United States Constitution. In the Troxel v Granville decision last June, the Court said, "the Federal Constitution permits the state to interfere with parental rights only to prevent harm or prevent potential harm to the child". In layman's terms or in other words the state cannot interfere with a fit parent's right to raise their children as they see fit. Justice Thomas said, "parents have a fundamental constitutional right to rear their children, including the right to determine who shall educate and socialize them." The Coalition for the Restoration of Parental Rights fully supports this father and we believe the Supreme Court does also.
The hearing on the matter is scheduled for 8:45 AM Wednesday, March 28, 2001 at the Brentwood Family Court, Brentwood, NH.
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For a complete information packet please contact:
Coalition for the Restoration of Parental Rights - NH Chapter: info@parentsright.org
http://www.parentsright.org - (603)-394-7690