Judge stops pregnant woman from divorcing abuser
Says husband unaware of baby by another
By Sam Howe Verhovek, Los Angeles Times | January 10, 2005
SEATTLE -- The day she was granted a divorce from her abusive husband, Shawnna J. Hughes said, was "the happiest day of my life." But barely a week later, the 27-year-old medical assistant was back before a judge, who rescinded the order after learning Hughes was pregnant by another man.
"Not only is it the policy of this court, it is the policy of the state that you cannot dissolve a marriage when one of the parties is pregnant," Superior Court Judge Paul A. Bastine told Hughes on Nov. 4.
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Edited to add: The mom is also on welfare, so the state has an interest in delaying the matter until paternity is established.