Alma Society, Inc. v. Mellon

601 F.2d 1225 (1979)

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Alma Society, Inc. v. Mellon

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
601 F.2d 1225 (1979)

Facts

Alma Society, Inc. (plaintiff), a group of adult adoptees, sued Mellon as a representative of the state of New York (defendant) to get access to their adoption records. Alma Society argued that by not having access to their adoption records, adult adoptees suffer psychological trauma and pain and suffering, and lack of access may cause them or their children medical problems by not knowing their medical history, may lead them to unwittingly commit incest, and may cause religious identity or freedom issues by not knowing the religion of their biological parents. Alma Society argued that the identity of their biological parents is a fundamental right under the Due Process Clause, adult adoptees is a suspect or quasi-suspect classification under the Equal Protection Clause, and the sealing of adoption records is an abolition of parental relation prohibited by the Thirteenth Amendment.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Oakes, J.)

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