A judge in Santa Fe has ruled that the former same-sex partner of a woman who adopted a girl from Russia 13 years ago has legal status as a natural parent.
The ruling Wednesday by District Judge Glenn Ellington is based on a June 1 New Mexico Supreme Court ruling that said Bani Chatterjee has legal rights as a parent and can seek child custody.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the latest ruling grants parental status to Chatterjee in the case she brought against Taya King in 2008. That was the same year the couple separated.
Chatterjee and King were domestic partners for about 15 years, during which time King adopted a 15-month-old girl.
The three lived together as a family.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.