Jones v. Barlow

In a decision issued on February 16, 2007, the Utah Supreme Court reversed three decades of Utah case law holding that courts may protect children's relationships with non-biological parents. Keri Jones and Cheryl Barlow had a child together in Utah using alternative insemination. After they separated, Barlow tried to keep Jones from having any contact with their child. In 2004, a Utah trial court granted Jones visitation. Barlow, who is represented by an anti-gay legal organization, appealed this decision to the Utah Supreme Court. In a shocking decision, the Utah Supreme Court reversed the trial court decision and abolished protections for all children with non-biological parents rather than provide these protections equally to children with lesbian parents. NCLR's co-counsel is Lauren Barros, a private family law attorney in Salt Lake City.