Family Rights
In re Custody of Angelo. The Center and co-counsel Andrea Poplawski have represent Holly
Cork, the natural mother of Angelo, in a longstanding child custody case. Angelo was born in Montana and was placed in foster care in that state. After the Montana Supreme Court awarded custody to Holly Cork in 2001, the Montana foster parents brought suit in Washington and prevailed. Holly Cork challenged the Spokane Superior Court ruling depriving her of custody and, on February 5, 2009, the Washington Supreme Court unanimously agreed. It reversed the Superior Court decision, opening the way for Holly to be reunited with Angelo. You can read our story on the case here.
Hanneman v. State of Washington. The Center for Justice assisted Lisa Hanneman in regaining custody of her disabled son after the death of her son’s father, who had previously held custody. 
State and county agencies denied access to Lisa because she’d sought mental health treatment several years previously, this despite the fact that she was under a doctor’s care and was successfully parenting two other children. The Center intervened to get her temporary and then full custody of her son. Moreover, the Center filed suit to change the policies that the agencies invoked to deny access in the first place. Not only were the changes in policy accomplished but the agencies agreed to a monetary settlement that will help Lisa and her children.
Andersen v. King County (formerly Andersen v. Sims). The Center filed an amicus brief on behalf of the children of same sex couples arguing that same sex marriage should be recognized as a constitutional right in Washington for the benefit of the children of same sex couples. Despite a superior court ruling in favor of the plaintiffs (the first such ruling by a U.S. trial court) the Washington Supreme Court issued a 5 to 4 decision against the plaintiffs in July 2006. Washington State Supreme Co. No. 75934-1