Court Won’t Intervene in Multistate Custody Battle Over Medically Fragile Newborn

The Supreme Court declined to intervene in a multistate custody dispute over a newborn with a serious heart defect, allowing a California-based parental custody decision to stand while the child’s medical care is arranged in Texas, where the baby was born. Surrogate McKenna West argued California denied her due process and sought a stay from Justice Kagan, but the request was denied. Texas and Alaska rulings deferred to California, and the Texas Supreme Court later allowed the baby to be moved to California for treatment. The case centers on the enforceability of the surrogacy agreement, the child’s medical needs, and questions of jurisdiction and due process in custody determinations.