Modonna’s bid to adopt 3-year-old Mercy James from Malawi was put on hold Monday, May 4, after Malawi's Supreme Court of Appeal adjourned indefinitely a ruling on her appeal. Photo Credit: Splash News
May 04, 2009, (Sawf News) - Modonna’s bid to adopt 3-year-old Mercy James from Malawi was put on hold Monday, May 4, after Malawi's Supreme Court of Appeal adjourned indefinitely a ruling on her appeal.
Madonna filed the appeal after a Malawian judge rejected her bid to adopt Mercy early in April 2009 because the singer did not fulfill a residency requirement for foreign adopters.
Malawian law mandates that foreign adopters spend 18-24 months living in the country with the children they want to adopt.
The residency rule was waived when Madonna adopted 3-year-old son David Banda, with then husband Guy Ritchie, from the country in 2006.
Explaining why she ruled differently, judge Esme Chombo said child welfare officers are required to find suitable prospective parents and "not someone who just flies in and out."
"Anyone could come to Malawi and quickly arrange for an adoption that might have grave consequences on the very children that the law seeks to protect," Chombo said.
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