Lisa Miller Update: Family Court FAIL

UPDATE: I bet my wife a beer at our local craft beer joint that Lisa Miller wouldn't show up for her February 23rd court hearing. I told her it was win-win, because either way she'd get a good beer. True for us, but not so much for Janet Jenkins, who was left standing alone in a Vermont court room this morning.

Family Court Judge William Cohen has issued an arrest warrant for Lisa Miller, finding her to be in criminal contempt of court. This is all well and good, but it doesn't do much for Janet Jenkins, who has taken to the airwaves in an attempt to find her missing daughter. Consider the additional insult of a Virginia judge who said he wouldn't issue such an arrest without undeniable proof that Lisa Miller knew she was supposed to be in court, and the failure of the court system becomes that much more pronounced.

An arrest warrant is only good when taken seriously, and when the suspect can be apprehended. Until then, Lisa Miller remains at large. - February 23, 2010.

I was watching Hope for Haiti Now last night, and trying to imagine the devastation and pain. Not knowing where my wife, my husband, my sister, my brother, my mother, my father are. It's heartbreaking to even fathom.

What I can't fathom, though, is not knowing where my children are, and not knowing if they are safe, healthy, and secure. It's a parent's worst nightmare. And I can't help but think of Janet Jenkins, who lives in the peaceful, disaster free town of Fair Haven, VT, and who has been living that very nightmare every day since March 2009.

Janet is a mother to Isabella Miller-Jenkins, the little girl who bears her last name, and who has been missing since November, abducted by Janet's former partner, the God fearing, gay hating Lisa Miller. I've been following this story for years -- ever since Lisa Miller absconded to Virginia, hoping to hide behind the state's anti-gay legislature and ignore her former life, and partner.

Until yesterday, the law has been mostly on Janet's side. But there's only so much a judicial decree can do. It can support Janet's legal status as one of Isabella's parents. It can give hope to LGBT families out there that not every law is intended, or interpreted, to screw them over. It can create a record of Lisa's consistent disrespect for the law. But the one thing it can't do is make Lisa magically appear for her scheduled hearings. Judge William Cohen, the family court judge assigned to the case, had seemingly had enough. Lisa ignored him in November, and again in January. He seemed poised to turn this civil custody case into a criminal event, charging Lisa with criminal contempt of court and issuing a warrant for her arrest.

But he didn't. Boo.

He gave Lisa, who has repeatedly missed court dates, 30 more days (to come out) of hiding. Rumor has it he's giving Virginia time to figure out some sort of Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) argument from Lisa's legal defense team, but considering Vermont jurisdiction over this matter has been validated time and time again, it seems like an empty gesture that does nothing but give Lisa more fuel for her fire and brimstone.

Not everyone is being so lenient. Lisa's attorney at Liberty Counsel, who has turned her into the newest darling of the "homos are bad for children" camp, wants out. Claiming that there has been no contact with Lisa for months, attorney Rena Lindevaldson claims to be unable to represent her client's needs in the matter. Come on, now, Rena, a few readings of Lisa's blog entries are more than sufficient to understand her agenda here.

For now, Liberty Counsel is stuck with her. And on February 23rd, Lisa will have yet another opportunity to show up and face the consequences of her actions. Don't hold your breath.

Photo credit: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children