Editorial: Justice sought on visitation rights

Tuesday, June 6, 2000 | 9:41 a.m.

The U.S. Supreme Court waded cautiously Monday into the issue of "grandparents' rights." The court ruled as unconstitutionally broad a Washington state law since it allowed anyone to seek visitation rights -- even if they weren't related to the child. At the same time, though, the justices left alone the visitation laws of the other 49 states that provide for grandparent visitation in some form.

The Supreme Court also believed that the Washington state law placed an unfair burden on parents to prove that they were fit -- even if there had been no showing otherwise. Indeed, the Washington Superior Court gave no special consideration for parents to decide what's in the best interest of their children. The U.S. Supreme Court made the right call: Unless there is reason to believe a child is being harmed, government should stay out of parenting.

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