Caregiver rights in adoption
A. A. v. Mast
In brief
- Where it stands
- Dismissed
Petition denied.
- What it’s about
- An infant orphaned in Afghanistan was placed with caretakers, who brought her to the U.S.; the people who obtained a Virginia adoption order took her without notifying the caretakers, and Virginia courts ruled the order void.
- Who it affects
- The caretakers got no Supreme Court ruling on what process they were due before the adoption order.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court refused to hear the case (denied the petition) and did not decide the caretakers’ due-process claim.
An infant orphaned in Afghanistan was placed with caretakers, who brought her to the United States. People who obtained a Virginia adoption order took her without notifying them; Virginia courts later ruled the order void.
The case concerned whether caregivers who are not a child’s parents have a constitutional right to be heard before an adoption ends their care.
Question presented
Whether, or under what circumstances, a child’s nonparent caretakers have a cognizable liberty interest under the Due Process Clause entitling them to procedural due process before a court enters an adoption order permanently removing the child from their care.
Documents
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
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Case data updated: documents, description, document_url, proceeding_type
Case data updated: documents, description, document_url, proceeding_type
Case data updated: documents, description, document_url, proceeding_type
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.