Lesbian 'co-parent' loses bid for shared custody

COLUMBUS (AP) — An Ohio woman has lost a legal bid for shared custody of a girl whose conception she planned with another woman who gave birth while the two were living as a couple in Cincinnati.

In a 4-3 decision on Tuesday, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in favor of the girl’s biological mother, Kelly Mullen, who claimed sole custody. Mullen’s former same-sex partner Michele Hobbs shared parenting and financial support of the girl, named Lucy, before the women split up in 2007.

Hobbs argued that the arrangement and several documents citing her as Lucy’s “co-parent” created a contractual agreement.

A magistrate who reviewed the evidence said the two had a binding agreement because they jointly planned Mullen’s insemination and pregnancy. Lower courts disagreed, and the high court upheld those rulings.