Lehr v. Robertson

Summary

The Court affirmed the New York Court of Appeals and held that an unmarried biological father who had not established a substantial relationship with his child was not constitutionally entitled to notice and an opportunity to be heard before the child's adoption. New York adequately protected his opportunity to develop a parental relationship through its putative-father registry and related notice provisions, and the statutory distinction between the mother and father did not deny equal protection because they were not similarly situated. The Court did not decide whether the Family Court abused its discretion under state law by failing to provide additional notice.