Under the state constitution, the Probate Court has general jurisdiction over orphan’s business. A new amendment on the ballot proposes to remove this language. Its proponents argue the language is outdated. They are wrong, and Alabama citizens should vote against the amendment.
The Probate Courts have jurisdiction over adoption cases in Alabama. Adoption is quintessential to orphan care, as it provides a pathway for abandoned and neglected children to be incorporated into a new family and home. Orphan’s business is not outdated language; it describes precisely what the Probate Court does.
Justice for orphans should be the concern of any free and ordered society. Removing orphan care language from the constitution entirely would be disrespectful to the plight of abandoned children. Furthermore, it would cloud the important distinction between the work of the Probate Court and that of the Juvenile Court.
Will we cease to have orphans in our communities if this language is “deleted”? The answer is No. They will just be a little more forgotten.
Under the current language, loving caregivers have been able to seek safety and resolution for the children they love. The Lansdell’s of Prattville, AL are one such family.
In their words, “Without the current wording (as it now) we would NOT have our sweet Elias today! Vote ‘NO’ to this.”
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