Utah AG Intervenes To Halt Adoptions By Same-Sex Couples

SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Attorney General is asking a state appeals court to block two adoptions recently approved for same-sex couples.

The state argues judges erred in granting requests by two couples to add a partner as a legal parent. In each case, only one of the partners has legal custody of a child they are raising together.

The couples are among more than 1,000 gay and lesbian partners who married after a federal judge overturned Utah's same-sex marriage ban Dec. 20. Those weddings stopped Jan. 6 when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay, leading Gov. Gary Herbert to put a hold off on any new benefits for the couples until the courts resolve the issue.

Kimberly and Amber Leary, whose adoption request was recently approved, are outraged by the actions.