Court Opinion

ID: 9731252
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 15:40:28.770837+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:16.573499
License: Public Domain

Justice Brennan,
dissenting in Michael H, derived the putative father’s liberty interest from the father’s biological link with his child, combined with a substantial parent-child relationship. Id. at 142-143 (Brennan J., dissenting). Justice *188Brennan specifically stated that an unwed father’s mere biological link with his child is insufficient to establish a liberty interest. Id. at 143, n 2. The United States Supreme Court adopted a comparable holding in Lehr v Robertson, 463 US 248; 103 S Ct 2985; 77 L Ed 2d 614 (1983).
Dissenting in Lehr, Justice White stated that , a father’s biological link with his child forms his liberty interest. The nature of the parent-child relationship is the biological link. The development of that relationship is relevant to its "weight,” not its nature. Id. at 271-272. (White, J., dissenting).
We agree with the reasoning of Justice Brennan in Michael H. Following that analysis, if plaintiff in this case had an established relationship with his child, we would hold that he had a protected liberty interest in that relationship that entitled him to due process of law. However, because plaintiff has no such relationship, we hold that the Paternity Act did not deny him his right to due process.
The term "liberty” entails more than a right to be free from arbitrary personal restraint or servitude. In its broadest sense, it extends to the full range of conduct that cannot be restricted except for a proper government objective. A person is not deprived of liberty, however, simply because state action imposes burdens or subjects individuals to restraints in matters that affect public interests or the rights of others. Slocum v Holton Bd of Ed, 171 Mich App 92, 101; 429 NW2d 607 (1988).
Plaintiff would have us adopt Justice White’s analysis in Lehr. While we sympathize with plaintiff, who was allegedly denied access to his child by defendant mother, we cannot agree that any putative father who could establish paternity by scien*189tifie means has a liberty interest in all proceedings concerning that child.
It is true that both parents and children have a due process liberty interest in their family life. In re Clausen, 442 Mich 648, 686; 502 NW2d 649 (1993). The protected interest, however, is in the family life, not in the mere biological link between parent and child. A rapist has a biological link with a child conceived by that rape. If we held that a mere biological link would ensure a father of a liberty interest in the rights to a relationship with the child, the rapist would be entitled to due process protections. See Michael H, supra at 124, n 4 (opinion of Scalia, J.).
Third, plaintiff contends that our Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Paternity Act in Girard denies him his right to equal protection of the law under the United States Constitution. Plaintiff claims that the Paternity Act discriminates between biological parents on the basis of gender and does not effectuate the state interest in preserving the sanctity of the marriage. We disagree.
The equal protection guarantees require that persons under similar circumstances be treated alike. Equal protection does not require that persons under different circumstances be treated the same. Petrus v Dickenson Co Bd of Comm’rs, 184 Mich App 282, 289-290; 457 NW2d 359 (1990).
Although the Paternity Act does treat biological parents differently, the statutory classification scheme is not based solely on gender. The Department of Social Services also has statutory authority to file a complaint on behalf of a child whose parents are supported by public assistance. MCL 722.714(8); MSA 25.494(8). Like the putative father, the Department of Social Services does not have standing unless the child meets the statutory requirements of a child born out of wedlock. Dep’t *190of Social Services v Baayoun, 204 Mich App 170, 175; 514 NW2d 522 (1994); but see Dep’t of Social Services v Carter, 201 Mich App 643, 648; 506 NW2d 603 (1993) (the DSS has standing under the Paternity Act when it is undisputed that the child was born out of wedlock).
In this case, plaintiff and defendant are not persons under similar circumstances. Plaintiff is an unwed father who has never had legal custody of the child and has never shouldered any responsibility with respect to the daily supervision, education, protection, or care of the child. On the other hand, once the child was born, defendant immediately became responsible for the child and reinforced her commitment to the child on a daily basis. Quilloin v Walcott, 434 US 246, 256; 98 S Ct 549; 54 L Ed 2d 511 (1978). Because the Paternity Act does not treat persons under similar circumstances differently, we find that plaintiff was not denied his right to equal protection under the law.
Although we do not find that the Paternity Act is unconstitutional, we still have some reservations about its effect on plaintiff in this case. In Spielmaker, supra, another panel of this Court criticized the effect of the Paternity Act upon putative fathers who wish to establish a relationship with their children. The panel stated:
It is indeed ironic that, at a time when much criticism is leveled at "deadbeat dads” who fail to assume responsibility for their children and there is a great emphasis placed on the need for fathers to become more involved in the lives of their children, we are faced with a father who wishes to do precisely that yet we are obligated to deny him the opportunity. [205 Mich App 59.]
If defendant and her current husband were to divorce, she would have standing to force plaintiff *191to pay child support for his child. Girard, supra at 263. Yet, plaintiff is prohibited from establishing a relationship with that child. It is unfortunate that plaintiff could be saddled with the financial responsibilities of raising a child without knowing any of the joys. However, this Court may not repeal a statute on the basis of policy concerns. That is the job of the Legislature. People v Kirby, 440 Mich 485, 493-494; 487 NW2d 404 (1992). While we encourage the Legislature to reconsider the effects of this law, we must have a constitutional basis for invalidating a statute. In this case, no such constitutional basis exists.
Defendant may file a bill of costs pursuant to MCR 7.219. Because plaintiff’s appeal is not vexatious, defendant is not entitled to attorney fees. DeWald v Isola (After Remand), 188 Mich App 697, 700; 470 NW2d 505 (1991).
Affirmed.
R. C. Livo, J., concurred.