Regina E. v. Dorothy G.

This is an appeal brought by a child’s maternal grandmother from a decree of adoption conferring parenthood on the child’s paternal grandparents. The appeal presents three cognizable issues and a host of emotional, social and moral problems.

A brief factual history of the child’s family includes the separation and divorce action of the parents, a contested monetary award to the wife, the preferred testimony of the wife’s attorney of her wishes concerning the future care of her child, and the singular calamity of her apparent murder by her husband, the child’s father.

After his arrest, the child’s father, Peter E., caused his mother, respondent Regina E., to become legal guardian of the child. The father has subsequently been convicted, sentenced to death and awaits the results of the automatic appeal to the Supreme Court.

During the pendency of these proceedings the child has lived with respondents, with frequent and extended visitation to appellants Dorothy G. and her husband, who, while not related by blood to the child, has been married to appellant since before the child’s birth and is referred to by the child as “Grandpa.”

In March 1985, the father consented to…