Question about Anna Mae He?

Question

I am watching GMA and this little girl who is 8 has been woth her adoptive family since she was 3 days old and the Tenn supreme court is sending her back to her Biological parents what the world

Answer 1

In January 2007, the Tennessee Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, authored by Chief Justice William M. Barker, reversed the ruling by the state Court of Appeals and ordered that Anna Mae He be returned to her biological parents. In its ruling, the Court said, "We hold that the parents of Anna Mae He did not voluntarily transfer custody and guardianship of Anna Mae He to the Bakers with knowledge of the consequences and, therefore are entitled to superior rights to custody." and "the evidence does not support a 'willful failure to visit' as a ground for abandonment." The case must now cycle back through the Shelby County Chancery Court as the process of returning the child to her biological parents begins. The Bakers will have to pay all legal fees, according to the opinion.

After the judgment was entered, on Feburary 2, 2007, the Bakers motioned the Tennessee Supreme Court to rehear the case and stay the custody transfer. The Tennessee Supreme Court promptly denied both motions on Feburary 9, 2007 and ordered the Bakers to pay costs "for which execution may issue if neccessary". Immediately thereafter, the Bakers petitioned to the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the transfer of custody. The U.S. Supreme Court denied Bakers' requests on Feburary 12, 2007, thus putting an end to the legal battle for custody.