Trial Delayed for Girl Seeking to ‘Divorce’ Parents

DETROIT — A juvenile court judge on Wednesday delayed the hearing for a 13-year-old girl who is seeking legal separation from her mother and her stepfather.

Inspired by a recent Florida case in which a 12-year-old boy won a court battle to legally separate from his parents, the girl hopes a “divorce” from her mother will open the way for her uncle and aunt to adopt her.

Juvenile Court Judge James Lacey continued an earlier order making the girl a ward of the state Department of Social Services pending the outcome of criminal sexual conduct charges against her stepfather. He is scheduled to go on trial Nov. 19.

Despite the earlier order putting the girl in custody of the department, she had been staying with her aunt and uncle. After the court session Wednesday, she was taken into the custody of the department.

The stepfather, who was arrested after the 13-year-old went to the police in May, faces four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against the girl and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct against her 15-year-old sister.

Court records show that the stepfather has admitted having sexual contact with the girls, the Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday. Juvenile court records also document years of abuse, neglect and foster care for the 13-year-old and her siblings, it said.

A Florida judge agreed last Friday to allow 12-year-old Gregory Kingsley to be adopted by his foster parents. The judge ruled in the case that Gregory’s mother had neglected him.