Call for Papers Symposium on Marriage, Adoption & the Best Interests of the Child

 July 31, 2002

Capital University Law School, the J. Reuben Clark Law School of Brigham Young University, and the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy at Capital University Law School are proud to sponsor a conference at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio, on Marriage, Adoption and the Best Interests of the Child. The conference will take place on Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2, 2002.

Participants, including law professors, adoption professionals, and other experts, will address a variety of topics which may include:

• whether and to what extent states and agencies currently regard marriage as a qualification for adoption;

• what the available empirical data suggest regarding what best promotes the interests of children;

• whether as a matter of constitutional law or good public policy, states and public or private agencies must, may, or cannot preclude single adults and same-sex and different-sex non-marital couples from adopting;

• whether states must recognize adoptions performed in other states, even if those adoptions would not be permitted locally;

• how approaches and policies in the United States compare to those of other countries;

• and what international law requires, permits, and precludes in this area.

The presentations will include pairings of individuals offering competing perspectives on these issues, which will not only further the dialogue on this important public issue but may provide guidance to legislators and public policy makers with respect to the policies, standards, and approaches that should be adopted by states and adoption agencies in the coming years.

Those interested in doing a presentation (roughly 15 minutes in length) should submit an abstract by September 15, 2002. Those selected to present will need to send an outline or draft of their presentation by October 16, 2002 via e-mail so that it can be posted on the Website.

We are making arrangements for publication of the proceedings--final versions of the papers (20-40 pages, double-spaced) must be received by January 6, 2003 to assure their inclusion.

Abstracts or requests for information should be sent to any of the following individuals:
Professor Lynn Wardle - wardlel@lawgate.byu.edu

Professor Mark Strasser - mstrasser@law.capital.edu

Professor Kent Markus - kmarkus@law.capital.edu