Opinion ID: 2518108
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: the denial of the putative father's right to consent pursuant to section 78b-6-121 is constitutional

Text: ¶ 24 Although he acknowledges the facial constitutionality of the adoption code, the putative father asserts that its application to him is unconstitutional, both under the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the United States Constitution. Specifically, the putative father argues that the statutory provisions denying him the right to consent to T.B.'s adoption are unconstitutional as applied to him because he had acquired, by virtue of the substantial relationship he developed with T.B. prior to the entry of the adoption decree, a fundamental parental liberty interestincluding the right to consent to T.B.'s adoptionprotected by the Due Process clause. ¶ 25 He also contends that the adoption code is an unconstitutional violation of his right to equal protection because it unjustifiably differentiates between unwed natural fathers based solely on the age of their child. Utah's adoption code provides that, for children six months and older, the extent of an unwed natural father's relationship with his child should be considered in determining whether he has the right to consent to that child's adoption. [10] The statute requires no similar consideration for fathers of children under six months of age. [11] The putative father argues that it is irrational for the legislature to draw this distinction. We address each of his arguments in turn.