Lori Surmay Speaks at NCJFCJ Annual Conference

Attorney Lori Surmay in San Diego, California during the NCJFCJ Annual Conference.

On July 20, 2010, attorney Lori Surmay spoke to The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges during that group's annual conference in San Diego. NCJFCJ selected Lori and her co-presenter, attorney Ellen Yarrell, from Houston, Texas, from a long list of interested speakers. Both Lori and Ellen are Fellows in the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and Ellen is a past Academy President. They spoke to a group of approximately 50 attendees from all over the country including Ellen's and Lori's own stomping grounds - a judge from Houston and a Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. Ellen and Lori debunked many myths about the impact on children of being raised by same-gender couples, and informed the audience of the many studies and well-known medical, psychological and legal organizations which support same gender parenting. The presentation and discussion also included timely topics such as the movie, "The Kids Are Alright" - about lesbian parenting and a sperm donor, to France's recent recognition of a second parent adoption. Ellen and Lori answered many questions for attendees and were very well received.

Of note: the incoming NCHFCJ President is Judge Michael Key from LaGrange, Georgia. Click here to read an article and see more photos from the conference on the NCJFCJ website.

An Extraordinary Decision for Unmarried Couples in France

It is with great happiness that our firm shares this major victory for clients of ours. Several years ago, Lori Surmay finalized here in Georgia a second parent adoption for a lesbian couple, one of whom is French. For years, they fought through the French legal system seeking French recognition of the adoption. The courts kept getting caught up in fears that the second parent’s adoption would somehow negate the rights of the first parent, the biological mother, despite evidence to the contrary including an affidavit stating that the U.S. final adoption order created a “second” legal parent (in addition to, not in replacement of, the first). On the same day recently that our French client earned her U.S. citizenship, the highest French court ruled in her favor. See a translation of one of the French articles published in Le Monde.

As the child spends a great deal of time in France with her grandparents, the family is greatly relieved that she now may be eligible for dual citizenship and a work visa in the future. When Lori first met this family, the little girl was in utero. She now ranks as one of the top swimmers in the state for 11 year olds. She is a normal child whose parents went to extraordinary measures to plan for her future and to provide her every advantage they could. This case will change things for all unmarried adoptive parents in France and we are thrilled with the outcome. Vive la France!

Lori Surmay speaks at NCJFCJ Annual Meeting in San Diego

Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. attorney Lori Surmay will speak at the 73rd Annual Conference of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, to be held July 18 - 21, 2010 in San Diego, California. Lori will co-present with Houston attorney Ellen Yarrell on Adoption Placement with Gay and Lesbian Parents. The lineup also includes presentations on domestic violence and its affect on youth, new approaches to delinquency cases including juvenile drug and alcohol courts, intercountry adoption, custody issues and the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). For a full program schedule, click here.

Lori Surmay on Adjunct Faculty at UGA

Partner Lori M. Surmay was invited to teach a "Sexuality and the Law" seminar class at the University of Georgia Law School for 2L and 3L students during the Spring 2010 semester. Classes focused on case law as well as contemporary legal issues in sexuality, incorporating news articles and current events along with a casebook. Class discussion was a major part of the course and students wrote a final paper in lieu of a traditional law school examination.

Ruth Claiborne and Lori Surmay Join AAARTA

Both partners of Claiborne & Surmay, PC have become fellows in the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys (AARTA). AAARTA is a professional organization dedicated to best practices in the area of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). To become a fellow, candidates must submit a lengthy application, proving competence in this unique law practice area. Invitations for membership are only extended after a thorough investigation of the candidate and approval by the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA) Board of Trustees. Ruth and Lori are also both fellows in AAAA.

Congratulations Ruth and Lori!