Michigan adoptive family back in court Becket asks court to protect faith-based adoption agencies from discriminatory policy

WASHINGTON – The parents of five children with special needs will be in court today to challenge a Michigan state policy threatening the faith-based adoption agency that brought their family together. In Buck v. Gordon, Melissa and Chad Buck, former foster child Shamber Flore, and St. Vincent Catholic Charities are challenging a new policy enacted by Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel that is threatening to shut down faith-based agencies like St. Vincent across the State. St. Vincent specializes in serving a diverse community and has been ministering to foster children and their families for over 70 years. Unless the court protects St. Vincent from the State’s harmful policy by September 30, the agency will be excluded from the state adoption system, Melissa and Chad will be left without crucial support, and many of Michigan’s thousands of foster children will be less likely to find forever homes (watch video here).

What:
Oral Argument in Buck v. Gordon

Who:
Lori Windham, senior counsel at Becket
Melissa Buck

When:
Thursday, August 22, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. EST

Where:
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
110 Michigan St., NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

Senior Counsel Lori Windham and Melissa Buck will be available for comment immediately following the hearing.

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Ryan Colby at media@becketlaw.org or 202-349-7219. Interviews can be arranged in English, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.