KY Supreme Court Rules Against Fatherhood for Adulterers

Save

Posted: 4:07 PM Apr 27, 2008
Last Updated: 4:07 PM Apr 27, 2008
Reporter: AP

4 comments

A | A | A

The Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled that a man who fathers a child during an affair with a married woman has no legal rights to fatherhood.

The vote was divided at 4-3, but the ruling upheld the presumption that a child born to a married woman living with her husband is a child of the marriage.

Justice Bill Cunningham wrote in the ruling that married couples have a right to be left alone from the claims of "interloper adulterers."

The court sided with a Louisville couple, Julia and Jonathan Ricketts.

They had sought to block James Rhoades Jr. from trying to establish paternity of a child he fathered during an affair with the woman.

More Stories
Anthrax Hoax Causes Concern at Warren County Justice Center

Vacation Goers Enjoy Holiday at the Lake

Business Slightly Slow at the Lake

Bicyclists Celebrate with Patriotic Parade

Celebrating the True Meaning of July 4

Barren River Lake Fireworks Show Back on Track

Putting Fireworks Display Together Is Hard Work

Church Members Sell Fireworks For Good Cause

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: greg Location: bowling green on Apr 28, 2008 at 09:55 AM
I am astounded by this decision. It says that a woman who has an affair, commits adultery, gives up no rights to their child but a man who is involved in the affair has no rights. The circumstances in an aldulterous relationship are different in every single case, another reason that a blanket ruling such as this should not stand. This ruling will be looked back on in jest by generations of the future, when men and women truly have EQUAL rights and not rights dictated by judges who believe they are the moral police of a people and that women are the only ones capable or deserving of parental rights.

Posted by: Robin on Apr 28, 2008 at 09:46 AM
How can they deny the biological father his rights? That is crazy. There is no law against adultry. Bill Cunningham is not abiding by the rules of seperation of church and state. That is what this boils down to.

Posted by: Cindy Location: Bowling Green on Apr 28, 2008 at 09:01 AM
I really don't think that this is a good ruling. Lets say somewhere down the road this couple were divorced. Would the court uphold its ruling, or would they then order that man to pay child support for a child that he was denied rights to when the other (husband) didn't want to pay support.

Posted by: Private Please Location: Franklin on Apr 27, 2008 at 05:30 PM
It is sad that this has to happen. Something similar happened to my husband during his first marriage. She had an affair and got pregnant, reconciled with her husband and they raised the daughter as their own until they were divorcing when the girl was 2. The mother decided she did not want her husband (my husband now) to be Daddy so she found the man who fathered the child. Paternity was established by DNA and all his rights to see his daughter were removed because he was not the biological father. He has not seen the child for 10 years, she is now 14 and lives across country. To make matters worse, the biological dad abused the child and he went to prison. I am glad to know that the mother remarried and her husband now adopted the girl and loves her as his own. The girl now has emotional issues resulting from all of this. WE NEED TO STOP HURTING OUR CHILDREN TO GET BACK AT A SPOUSE!! THE CHILDREN ARE THE ONES WHO SUFFER!!

Unable to see the video? Download Flash Here.

	WBKO Blogs Information on a variety of topics, from food and entertainment to the coming digital changeover, written and updated by the WBKO staff. Get your questions answered here!
	WBKO Hometown Hero Do you know someone special who deserves to be a Hometown Hero? WBKO and Hughes & Coleman invite you to nominate them here!
	Contests and Giveaways Register to win great prizes from WBKO and our fantastic partners
	Recipes Cook up something delicious with one of our featured recipes!
	Polls Let your voice be heard by giving us your opinion on our daily poll question.
	Obituaries Honoring those who have passed on. Updated daily.