Appellate Briefs

As many of you know, I am involved to some degree in two appellate cases currently pending before the Ugandan Court of Appeals.  I have previously written about Henry’s case and that of Sara and Andy Ribbens.

With respect to the first case, Henry is a boy I first met during my initial visit to Uganda in January of 2010.  I have seen Henry each of my five prior visits to Uganda and we have grown rather attached to each other.  The appellate argument was originally supposed to take place in September, but was postponed to November, then to February, and now it appears that it will happen in April.

The reason for the postponements is that under the Ugandan Constitution, petitions related to national elections must take precedence over all other court work.  And since Uganda had its national elections in February of 2011, the appellate courts are now being hit with the appeals.  On the positive side of the ledger, I have been assured that my practising (that’s how they spell it here) certificate should be issued tomorrow, which will officially allow me to be appear in court on behalf of Henry.

With respect to the second case, my role has been rather limited – helping them get a hearing date and doing legal research and writing in advance of the oral argument.  I first met Sara and Andy in November when I was last here, and their story captured my heart and attention.  They have been here in Uganda for just under a year waiting for their family to be officially completed.  This past week, I was pleased to be able to introduce my family to Sara and their three kids when they came over for lunch (Andy had to fly home last week to resume work to support the family).  Sara and Andy have one biological son, one adopted Ugandan son, and one Ugandan daughter they are in the process of trying to adopt.  They were denied the adoption of the girl at the trial level and had the oral argument on their appeal in mid-December.

Sara with Bauer, Nya, and Owen

Jessica holding Nya during her afternoon nap

Earlier today, Sara received word that the decision in the appellate case will be announced on Thursday morning.  Please pray fervently for a positive ruling and for the strength and endurance to persevere if the ruling is adverse.  I will post an update on the ruling on Thursday.