No. 96,102.

Supreme Court of Kansas

In re K.M.H
285 Kan. 53 (Kan. 2007) • 169 P.3d 1025
Decided Oct 26, 2007

The opinion of the court was delivered by Kansas residents, and their oral arrangements
for the donation occurred in Kansas, but S.H.
BEIER, J.: underwent two inseminations with D.H.'s
sperm in Missouri.
This appeal from a consolidated child in need of
care (CINC) case and a paternity action arises D.H. accompanied S.H. to a Missouri clinic for
out of an artificial insemination leading to the the first procedure and provided the necessary
birth of twins K.M.H. and K.C.H. We are called sperm to medical personnel. The first procedure
upon to decide the existence and extent of the did not result in a pregnancy. D.H. did not
parental rights of the known sperm donor, who accompany S.H. to Missouri for the second
alleges he had an agreement with the children's procedure. Instead, he provided the sperm to
mother to act as the twins' father. S.H., and she delivered it to the Missouri
physician responsible for the insemination. The
The twins' mother filed a CINC petition to
second procedure resulted in S.H.'s pregnancy
establish that the donor had no parental rights
and the birth of the twins.
under Kansas law. The donor sued for
determination of his paternity. The district There was no formal written contract between
court sustained the mother's motion to dismiss, S.H. and D.H. concerning the donation of
ruling that K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) was controlling and sperm, the artificial insemination, or the
constitutional. That statute provides: expectations of the parties with regard to D.H.'s
parental rights or lack thereof.
"The donor of semen provided to a
licensed physician for use in artificial The twins were born on May 18, 2005. The day
insemination of a woman other than the after their birth, S.H. filed a CINC petition
donor's wife is treated in law as if he concerning the twins, seeking a determination
were not the birth father of a child that D.H. would have no parental rights. The
thereby conceived, unless agreed to in petition identified D.H. as "[t]he minor
writing by the donor and the woman.'' children's father" and alleged that the twins
K.S.A. 38-1114(0. were in need of care "as it relates to the father"
and that "the [f ]ather should be found unfit and
Factual and Procedural Background his rights terminated." The petition continued
Many of the underlying facts are undisputed. to refer to D.H. throughout as the twins' father.
The mother, S.H., is an unmarried female lawyer
On May 31, 2005, D.H. filed an answer to the
56 who wanted to become a parent *56 through
CINC petition and filed a separate paternity
artificial insemination from a known donor. She
action acknowledging his financial
was a friend of the donor, D.H., an unmarried
responsibility for the children and claiming
male nonlawyer, who agreed to provide sperm
parental rights, including joint custody and
for the insemination. Both S.H. and D.H. are
visitation. The CINC and paternity actions were
 consolidated. S.H. filed a motion to dismiss the him, where the artificial insemination was
paternity action, invoking K.S.A. 38-1114(0. After performed. D.H. said Missouri has no statute
the motion was filed, the district judge raised barring a presumption of paternity for a known
questions concerning choice of law and the sperm donor for an unmarried woman; paternity
constitutionality of the statute and ordered the is proved by "consanguinity or genetic test."
parties to brief these issues along with the other D.H. also asserted that no doctor would perform
issues arising out of the motion to dismiss. an insemination on an unmarried woman in
Topeka, Lawrence, or Kansas City, Kansas, and
In her brief, S.H. argued Kansas law should apply
suggested a Kansas doctor could have had a duty
because her original oral agreement with D.H.
to discuss the legal implications of the
took place in Kansas; the parties reside in
procedure under Kansas law while a Missouri
Kansas; the sperm resulting in the pregnancy
doctor would not.
57 was given *57 to her by D.H. in Kansas; and the
children reside in Kansas. In her view, the single In the event the court held that Kansas law
fact that the procedure was performed by a governed, D.H. argued that K.S.A. 38-1114(f )
doctor in Missouri did not constitute a unconstitutionally deprived him of his right to
significant contact with that state, and Missouri care, custody, and control of his children and
did not have a sufficient ongoing interest in the violated public policy "support[ing] the concept
parties or in the subject matter of their dispute. 58 of legitimacy and the concomitant *58 rights of a
child to support and inheritance." If the statute
On the merits, S.H. principally relied upon
is constitutional, he asserted, its dictate of
K.S.A. 38-1114(f ). S.H. argued that her CINC
nonpaternity of a sperm donor should not apply
petition did not constitute her written assent to
to him because he had provided his sperm to
D.H.'s parental rights under K.S.A. 38-1114(f ).
S.H. rather than to a licensed physician. He also
She also asserted that the mutual
cited the CINC petition's identification of him
preinsemination intent of the parties — as a
as the twins`"father" and its faulting of him for
single mother-to-be and a sperm donor only, not
failing to do things consistent with parenthood.
as coparents — was clear from their actions
D.H. asserted the wording of the CINC petition
during the pregnancy. According to S.H., she
was evidence of the parties' mutual intent to
sought out fertility tests and treatments on her
take themselves out from under the statutory
own; D.H. did not attend the second procedure
provision for nonpaternity. He also contended
or sonograms or other prenatal medical
that he had offered financial assistance and
appointments; and he did not provide emotional
attempted to visit the children in the hospital
support or financial assistance during the
after their birth and on subsequent occasions,
pregnancy or after the twins' birth. She also
but that he was prevented from doing so by S.H.
argued that D.H. was morally, financially, and
emotionally unfit to be a father. The district judge ruled that Kansas law
governed, that K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) was
In his arguments in the district court, D.H.
constitutional and applicable, and that the CINC
maintained that he had standing to file his
petition did not constitute a written agreement
paternity action as the biological father of
departing from the provision for nonpaternity
K.M.H. and K.C.H. On choice of law, D.H. argued
set forth in the statute. The judge therefore
that Kansas conflict principles required the
granted S.H.'s motion, concluding as a matter of
court to look to the place of either contract
law that D.H. had no legal rights or
formation or contract performance. He asserted
responsibilities regarding K.M.H. and K.C.H.
that the "more sensible" approach in this case
would be to apply the law of the state where Issues on Appeal
performance occurred, which was, according to
 On appeal, both parties reiterate the arguments 56 P.3d 829 (2002). Although S.H.'s motion was
they made to the district court, and D.H. alleges titled "Motion to Dismiss," the district judge
for the first time that another statutory considered materials beyond the pleadings,
provision and equity favor his side of the case. essentially treating the motion as one for
We therefore address six issues: (1) Did the summary judgment. We are therefore mindful of
district judge err in ruling that Kansas law would our often stated standard of review following
govern? (2) Did the district judge err in holding summary judgment in the district court: We
K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) constitutional under the Equal must view the evidence in the light most
Protection and Due Process Clauses of the favorable to the nonmoving party, D.H. See
Kansas and the federal Constitutions? (3) Did Wachter Management C.O. v. Dexter Chaney, Inc.,
the district judge err in interpreting and 282 Kan. 365, 368, 144 P.3d 747 (2006). The
applying the "provided to a licensed physician" district court's judgment for the moving party,
language of K.S.A. 38-1114(0? (4) Did the district S.H., should be affirmed on appeal if there
judge err in determining that the CINC petition remains no genuine issue of material fact for
did not satisfy the requirement of a writing in trial and the case is appropriate for disposition
K.S.A. 38-1114(0? (5) Did K.S.A. 38-1114(a)(4) in her favor as a matter of law. See K.S.A. 60-
grant D.H. parental rights? and (6) Does equity 256; Scott v. Hughes, 281 Kan. 642, 644, 132 P.3d
demand reversal of the district court? 889 (2006); Kluin, 274 Kan. at 893.

On this appeal, we also have the benefit of briefs Choice of Law

from two amici curiae — one from the Washburn
The United States Supreme Court has held:
University School of Law's Children and Family
Law Center (Center), which argues that K.S.A. "In deciding constitutional choice-of-law
38-1114(0 is unconstitutional as applied to known questions, whether under the Due
59 sperm donors, *59 and one from family law Process Clause or the Full Faith and
professors Joan Heifetz Hollinger, et al, who Credit Clause, this Court has
argue that K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) is constitutional and traditionally examined the contacts of
that it should be applied consistently with its the State, whose law was applied, with
plain language to bar D.H.'s assertion of the parties and with the occurrence or
paternity. transaction giving rise to the litigation.
[Citation omitted.] In order to ensure
Standing and Standard of Review that the choice of law is neither arbitrary
The parties do not appear to dispute D.H.'s 60 nor fundamentally *60 unfair [citation
standing to bring a paternity action at this stage omitted], the Court has invalidated the
in the proceedings, but we note briefly as a choice of law of a State which has had no
preliminary matter that his standing is not in significant contact or significant
serious doubt. K.S.A. 38-1115(a)(1) permits a aggregation of contacts, creating state
child "or any person on behalf of such a child" to interests, with the parties and the
bring a paternity action "to determine the occurrence or transaction." Allstate Ins.
existence of a father and child relationship C.O. v. Hague, 449 U.S. 302, 308, 66 L.Ed.
presumed under K.S.A. 38-1114." It is D.H.'s 2d 521, 101 S.Ct. 633 (1981).
position that his fatherhood of the twins should
Various factors are relevant to a choice-of-law
be presumed under the statute.
determination, including the procedural or
Regarding standard of review, each of the issues substantive nature of the question involved, the
raised on appeal presents a pure question of law residence of the parties involved, and the
reviewable de novo by this court. Kluin v. interest of the State in having its law applied.
American Suzuki Motor Corp., 274 Kan. 888, 893, Sun Oil C.O. v. Wortman, 486 U.S. 717, 736, 100
 L.Ed. 2d 743, 108 S.Ct. 2117 (1988) (Brennan, J., our current mobile society, place of conception
concurring). "`As long as Kansas has of child carries little weight [in choice-of-law
"`significant contact or [a] significant determination]." In re Adoption of Baby Boy S., 22
aggregation of contacts' . . . to ensure that the Kan. App. 2d 119, 126, 912 P.2d 761, rev. denied 260
choice of Kansas law is not arbitrary or unfair," Kan. 993, cert. denied 519 U.S. 870 (1996).
constitutional limits are not violated.' Instead, "[w]hether a child is legitimate is
[Citations omitted.]" Brenner v. Oppenheimer {? determined by the local law of the state which,
C.O., 273 Kan. 525, 534, 44 P.3d 364 (2002); see with respect to the particular issue, has the
Phillips Petroleum C.O. v. Shutts, 472 U.S. 797, 818, most significant relationship to the child and
86 L.Ed. 2d 628, 105 S.Ct. 2965 (1985) (citing the parent"; considerations include "the relative
Allstate Ins. C.O. v. Hague, 449 U.S. at 312-13); interests of those states in the determination of
Dragon v. Vanguard Industries, Inc., 277 Kan. 776, the particular issue," "the protection of justified
790, 89 P.3d 908 (2004). Also, to the extent this expectations," "the basic policies underlying the
case is viewed as a contractual dispute, Kansas particular field of law," and the "certainty,
courts apply the Restatement (First) of Conflict predictability and uniformity of result."
of Laws § 332 (1934), and the doctrine of lex loci Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws §§ 6,
contractus, i.e., the law of the state where the 287 (1) comment d (1969).
contract is made governs. See ARY Jewelers v.
D.H. urges us to follow the lead of the Illinois
Krigel, 211 Kan. 464, 481, 85 P.3d 1151 (2004);
Supreme Court in In Re Marriage of Adams, 133
Wilkinson v. Shoney's, Inc., 269 Kan. 194, 209-10, 4
Ill. 2d 437, 447, 551 N.E.2d 635 (1990), which
P.3d 1149 (2000); Foundation Property Investments
applied the law of the state where an
v. CTP, 37 Kan. App. 2d 890, Syl. ¶ 4, 159 P.3d
insemination was performed because it would
1042 (2007); Layne Christiansen C.O. v. Zurich
"fulfill the participants' expectations and . . .
Canada, 30 Kan. App. 2d 128, 141-42, 38 P.3d 757
help insure predictability and uniformity of
(2002). A contract is made where the last act
result."
necessary for its formation occurs. ARY Jewelers,
277 Kan. at 481-82; Wilkinson, 269 Kan. at 210; In Adams, a husband and wife had been Florida
Foundation Property Investments, 37 Kan. App. 2d residents; their consultations concerning
at 894-95; Layne Christiansen C.O., 30 Kan. App. fertility options occurred in Florida; the
2d at 141-43. artificial insemination from an anonymous
donor was performed by a Florida doctor in his
"Generally the party seeking to apply the law of
Florida clinic; and the baby was born in Florida
a jurisdiction other than the forum has the
and was a Florida resident until the wife moved
burden to present sufficient facts to show that
herself and the child to her parents' home in
other law should apply. Failure to present facts
Illinois and then filed for divorce. The husband
sufficient to determine where the contract is
sought a determination of nonpaternity, and the
made may justify a default to forum law." Layne
court determined that Florida law should govern
Christensen C.O., 30 Kan. App. 2d at 143-44. In
because Florida had a more significant
addition, we note that Kansas courts have often
relationship than Illinois to the parentage
leaned toward a lex fori, or law of the forum,
dispute. 133 Ill. 2d at 447.
61 approach, opting to apply Kansas law *61 absent
a clear showing that another state's law should The facts of this case bear little resemblance to
apply. See Dragon, 211 Kan. at 790; Systems Design the facts of Adams. Here, the parties are Kansas
v. Kansas City P.O. Employees Cred. Union, 14 Kan. residents. Whatever agreement that existed
App. 2d 266, 269, 788 P.2d 878 (1990). Moreover, between the parties was arrived at in Kansas,
our Court of Appeals has recognized in a case where they exchanged promises supported by
focused on the legitimacy of a child that, "[i]n consideration, and D.H. literally delivered on his
62 promise by giving his sperm to S.H. The *62 should seek a result geared to the best interests
twins were born in Kansas and reside in Kansas. of the child, in this case advancing a public
The only fact tying any of the participants to policy favoring the right of every child to two
Missouri is the location of the clinic where the parents, regardless of the means of the child's
insemination was performed. conception.

Under these circumstances, we hold that Kansas 63 *63As mentioned in summary above, our review
law applies and that significant contacts and a of whether a statute is constitutional raises a
significant aggregation of contacts with Kansas question of law reviewable de novo. In re Tax
make application of our law to the parties' Appeal of CIG Field Services C.O., 279 Kan. 857,
claims not only appropriate but also 866-67, 112 P.3d 138 (2005). In addition,
constitutional. This choice is neither arbitrary
"`[t]he constitutionality of a statute is
nor unfair; neither party would have been
presumed. All doubts must be resolved
justified in expecting Missouri to have a
in favor of its validity, and before the act
controlling interest as to any dispute between
may be stricken down it must clearly
them.
appear that the statute violates the
Constitutionality of KS.A. 38-1114(f) constitution. In determining
constitutionality, it is the court's duty to
In his brief, D.H. makes a general allegation that
uphold a statute under attack rather than
K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) offends the Constitution. The
defeat it. If there is any reasonable way
cases he cites in support discuss both the Equal
to construe the statute as
Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause;
constitutionally valid, that should be
we thus presume his challenge relies upon each
done. A statute should not be stricken
of these provisions. See U.S. Const. amend. XIV;
down unless the infringement of the
Kan. Const. Bill of Rights, §§ 2, 18. At oral
superior law is clear beyond substantial
argument before this court, D.H. conceded that
doubt.' [Citations omitted]." State v.
his rights under these provisions do not differ
Rupnick, 280 Kan. 720, 736, 125 P.3d 541
as between the federal and state Constitutions.
(2005).
He also acknowledged that he no longer
challenges the statute as unconstitutional on its Given the relative newness of the medical
face; rather, he argues it cannot be procedure of artificial insemination, and thus
constitutionally applied to him, as a known the newness of K.S.A. 38-1114(f )'s attempt to
sperm donor who alleges he had an oral regulate the relationships arising from it, it is
agreement with the twins' mother that granted not surprising that the issue raised by D.H. is
him parental rights. The amicus brief filed by the one of first impression, not only in Kansas but
Center further clarifies that the constitutional nationally. We therefore begin our discussion of
challenge before us is only to the statute as the constitutionality of the statute by surveying
applied to D.H. the landscape of various states' laws governing
the rights of sperm donors for artificial
The Center insists the statute deprives D.H. of
insemination. This landscape and its ongoing
parental rights without due process of law and
evolution provide helpful context for our
without a required finding of unfitness. It urges
analysis of K.S.A. 38-1114(f )
us to dispense with a literal reading of the
statute's language, invoking the purported The majority of states that have enacted
purpose of the Kansas Parentage Act, K.S.A. 38- statutes concerning artificial insemination state
1110 et seq., to encourage fathers to acknowledge that the husband of a married woman bears all
paternity and child support obligations rights and obligations of paternity as to any
voluntarily. It also emphasizes that courts child conceived by artificial insemination,
 whether the sperm used was his own or a "(a) If, under the supervision of a
donor's. See, e.g., Ala. Code § 26-17-21(a) (1992) licensed physician and with the consent
("If, under the supervision of a licensed of her husband, a wife is inseminated
physician and with the consent of her husband, a artificially with semen donated by a man
wife is inseminated artificially with semen not her husband, the husband is treated
donated by a man not her husband, the husband in law as if he were the natural father of a
is treated in law as if he were the natural father child thereby conceived. The husband's
of a child thereby conceived."); see also Cal. consent must be in writing and signed by
Fam. Code § 7613(a) (West 2004) (same); Colo. him and his wife. The physician shall
Rev. Stat. § 19-4-106(1) (West 2005) (same); 111. certify their signatures and the date of
Comp. Stat. ch. 750 40/3(a) (West 1999) (same); the insemination, and file the husband's
Minn. State § 257.56 Subd. 1 (2007); Mo. Rev. consent with the [State Department of
Stat. 210.824(1) (2000) (same); Mont. Code Health], where it shall be kept
Ann. § 40-6-106(1) (2005); Nev. Rev. Stat. § confidential and in a sealed file.
126.061(1) (2005) (same); N.J. Stat. Ann. § 9:17- However, the physician's failure to do so
44(a) (2002) (same); N.M. Stat. Ann. § 40-11- does not affect the father and child
6(A) (Michie 2006) (same); Ohio Rev. Code relationship. All papers and records
64 Ann. § 3111.95(A) (Anderson 2003) (similar); *64 pertaining to the insemination, whether
Wis. Stat. § 891.40(1) (2005-06) (same). Further, part of the permanent record of a court
several of these states' statutes provide that a or of a file held by the supervising
donor of semen used to inseminate a married physician or elsewhere, are subject to
woman will not be treated in law as the father of inspection only upon an order of the
any child conceived, if he is not the woman's court for good cause shown.
husband. See, e.g., Ala. Code § 26-17-21(b) (1992)
"(b) The donor of semen provided to a
("The donor of semen provided to a licensed
licensed physician for use in artificial
physician for use in artificial insemination of a
insemination of a married woman other
married woman other than the donor's wife is
than the donor's wife is treated in law as
treated in law as if he were not the natural
if he were not the natural father of a
father of a child thereby conceived."); Minn.
child thereby conceived." (Emphasis
Stat. § 257.56 Subd. 2 (2007) (same); Mo. Rev.
added) Uniform Parentage Act (1973) § 5;
Stat. § 210.824(2) (2000) (same); Mont. Code
9B U.L.A. at 407-08.
Ann. § 40-6-106(2) (2005) (same); Nev. Rev.
Stat. § 126.061 (2) (2005) (same). One court has The wording of this original Act and statutes
observed that these two rules protect the that imitated it did not address the
expectations of the married couple, the best determination of a sperm donor's paternity
interests of the child, and the expectations of 65 when *65 an unmarried woman conceived a child
the donor. See People v. Sorensen, 68 Cal. 2d 280, through artificial insemination. The earliest case
284-88, 66 Cal. Rptr. 7, 437 P.2d 495 (1968). to address this particular question arose in a
state that had not yet adopted any statute
The 1973 Uniform Parentage Act, promulgated
regarding the effects of the procedure.
by the National Conference of Commissioners
on Uniform State Laws, 9B U.L.A. 377 (2001), In that case, C.M. v. C.C., 152 N.J. Super. 160, 377
provided the model for many of the state A.2d 821 (1977), a sperm donor filed a paternity
artificial insemination statutes that incorporate suit, seeking parental rights to a child born
these two rules. See, e.g., Cal. Fam. Code § 7613; when the child's unmarried mother artificially
N.M. Stat. Ann. § 40-11-6. Section 5 of the inseminated herself with the donor's sperm. In
original uniform Act provided: that case, the mother and the donor had been in
 a long-standing romantic relationship; the 3111.95(B) (Anderson 2003) (same); Va. Code
donor testified they were contemplating Ann. § 20-158(A)(3) (2004) (substantially
marriage; the mother wanted a child but did not similar).
want to have sexual intercourse before marriage;
Four cases interpreting one of these types of
and the insemination procedure was performed
statutes covering both married and unmarried
at the mother's home. Three months into the
recipients and establishing an absolute bar to
pregnancy, the mother ended her relationship
donor paternity were decided before a 2000
with the donor, and she refused him access to
amendment to the uniform Act made it
the child after its birth.
applicable to unmarried as well as married
The New Jersey court relied upon a common- recipients of donor sperm. See Uniform
law presumption of paternity to award visitation Parentage Act (2000); 9B U.L.A. 295 (West
rights to the donor as the "natural father" of the 2001).
"illegitimate child." Had the mother and the
The first of the four arose in California in 1986.
donor been married and conceived the child
In that case, Jhordan C. v. Mary K, 179 Cal. App.
through artificial insemination, the court said,
3d 386, 224 Cal. Rptr. 530 (1986), a donor
the donor would have been considered the
provided sperm to one of two unmarried women
child's father. Given the evidence that the
who had decided to raise a child together.
parties had intended to parent the child
California had adopted the language of the 1973
together, the court believed the same result
Uniform Act with the exception that it had
should follow, despite the absence of wedding
omitted the word "married" in the second
vows. 152 N.J. Super, at 165-68.
subsection. Jhordan C, 179 Cal. App. 3d at 392
Certain states other than New Jersey either (citing then-existing Cal. Civ. Code § 7005
anticipated the need for their original statutes [West 1979], which now appears, substantially
to govern the relationship of a sperm donor to unchanged, in Cal. Fam. Code § 7613 [West
the child of an unmarried recipient as well as a 2004]). As the court put it:
married recipient or modified their original
"[T]he California Legislature has
uniform Act-patterned statutes to remove the
afforded unmarried as well as married
word "married" from the § 5 (b) language. This
women a statutory vehicle for obtaining
meant these states' statutes contained complete
semen for artificial insemination without
bars to paternity for any sperm donor not
fear that the donor may claim paternity,
married to the recipient, regardless of whether
and has likewise provided men with a
the recipient was married to someone else and
statutory vehicle for donating semen to
regardless of whether the donor was known or
married and unmarried women alike
anonymous. An example of such a provision
without fear of liability for child support.
reads: "The donor of semen provided to a
Subdivision (b) states only one
licensed physician for use in artificial
limitation on its application: the semen
insemination of a woman other than the donor's
must be `provided to a licensed
wife is treated in law as if he were not the
physician.' Otherwise, whether
natural father of a child thereby conceived." See,
impregnation occurs through artificial
66 e.g., Cal. Fam. Code § 7613(b) *66 (West 2004);
insemination or sexual intercourse, there
Ill. Comp. Stat. ch. 750 40/3(b) (West 1999);
can be a determination of paternity with
Wis. Stat. § 891.40(2) (2005-06) (same); see also
the rights, duties and obligations such a
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-4-106(2) (West 2005)
determination entails." Jhordan C, 179
(substantially similar); Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-
Cal. App. 3d at 392.
775 (2007) (similar); Idaho Code § 39-5405
(2002) (similar); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §
 Because the parties had no doctor involved in "If the donor of semen used in artificial
the donation or insemination and thus the insemination is not the mother's
sperm was never "provided to a licensed husband: (1) Such donor shall have no
physician," the court ruled that the case before right, obligation or interest with respect
it fell outside the statute. It therefore affirmed to a child born as a result of the artificial
the lower court's recognition of the donor's insemination; and (2) A child born as a
paternity. Jhordan C, 179 Cal. App. 3d at 398. result of the artificial insemination shall
Although the court addressed its ruling's impact have no right, obligation or interest with
67 on the constitutional rights *67 of the two respect to the donor." Ore. Rev. Stat. §
women, it did not address any constitutional 109.239 (1977).
implications for the donor. Jhordan C, 179 Cal.
The donor challenged this statute under equal
App. 3d at 395-96.
protection and due process principles. He swore
The second case, In Interest of R.C., 775 P.2d 27 out an affidavit in support of summary judgment
(Colo. 1989), arose in Colorado in 1989. In that and argued he had relied on an agreement with
case, the district court had refused to admit the mother that he "would remain active" in the
proffered evidence of an agreement that the child's life and "participate in all important
donor would act as a father based on relevance; decisions concerning the child." 98 Or. App. at
it granted the unmarried mother's motion to 464. He sought visitation and said that he was
dismiss the donor's paternity suit based on 68 willing *68 and able to accept the same level of
Colorado's statute. The Colorado provision, like responsibility for the support, education,
that in California, applied to both married and maintenance, and care of the child and for
unmarried recipients and contained a blanket pregnancy-related expenses that he would have
bar to donor parental rights. See Colo. Rev. Stat. had if the child had been born from his marriage
§ 19-4-106. to its mother. The district court ruled that the
donor's paternity claim was barred by the
The Colorado Supreme Court reversed the
Oregon statute.
district court and remanded for findings of fact.
It explicitly rejected the idea that an unmarried The McIntyre court began its analysis by reciting
recipient lost the protection of the statute its equal protection standard of review, which
"merely because she knows the donor." R.C., 775 was strict scrutiny, a standard more searching
P.2d at 35. And it did not reach the equal than that applied to such claims in Kansas. See
protection and due process challenges raised by generally State v. Limon, 280 Kan. 275, 283-87, 122
the donor. However, it concluded the statute P.3d 22 (2005) (equal protection challenge based
was ambiguous and refused to apply its absolute on gender discrimination does not require strict
bar to paternity because the known donor had scrutiny, i.e., showing classification necessary to
produced evidence of an oral agreement that he serve compelling state interest; rather, court
would be treated as father of the child. R.C., 775 applies intermediate scrutiny, i.e., classification
P.2d at 35. must substantially further legitimate legislative
purpose); see Chiles v. State, 254 Kan. 888, 891-93,
The next case, McIntyre v. Crouch, 98 Or. App.
869 P.2d 707, cert. denied 513 U.S. 850 (1994);
462, 780 P.2d 239 (1989), cert. denied 495 U.S. 905
Farley v. Engelken, 241 Kan. 663, 669, 740 P.2d
(1990), involved an unmarried woman who
1058 (1987). The Oregon court stated: "A statute
artificially inseminated herself with a known
that gives a privilege to women while denying it
donor's semen. The donor sought recognition of
to men is inherently suspect and subject to
his paternity, and both he and the woman
strict scrutiny, unless the classification (1) is
sought summary judgment. The Oregon artificial
based on specific biological differences between
insemination statute read:
 men and women and (2) is rationally related to proceedings to an unwed father who had not
the purposes of the statute." McIntyre, 98 Or. filed with New York's putative father registry
App. at 469. and had never established a substantial
relationship with the child. The Court stated:
Under this standard, the Oregon court ruled
that the statute before it drew an acceptable "When an unwed father demonstrates a
"classification of unmarried males and full commitment to the responsibilities
unmarried females . . . based on biological of parenthood by `com[ing] forward to
differences . . . . Only a male could contribute participate in the rearing of his child,'
the sperm to accomplish conception; only a [citation omitted,], his interest in
female could conceive and bear the child." 98 Or. personal contact with his child acquires
App. at 469-470. Further, the classification was substantial protection under the Due
rationally related to the purposes of the statute, Process Clause. . . . But the mere
which were: (1) to allow married couples to have existence of a biological link does not
children, even though the husband was infertile, merit equivalent constitutional
impotent, or ill; (2) to allow an unmarried protection." Lehr, 463 U.S. at 261 (quoted
woman to conceive and bear a child without in McIntyre, 98 Or. App. at 470).
sexual intercourse; (3) to resolve potential
The Lehr Court ultimately held that the State's
disputes about parental rights and
failure to notify the father of adoption
responsibilities: that is, (a) the mother's
proceedings did not deny him due process of
husband, if he consents, is father of the child,
law. 463 U.S. at 264-65. No substantive due
and (b) an unmarried mother is free from any
process right to care, custody, and control of the
claims by the donor of parental rights; (4) to
child had vested in a man who could
encourage men to donate semen by protecting
demonstrate nothing more than a biological link
them against any claims by the mother or the
to his off-spring. 463 U.S. at 258-62. The Lehr
child; and (5) to legitimate the child and give it
Court noted, however, that an unwed father who
rights against the mother's husband, if he
demonstrated "a full commitment to the
69 consented to *69 the insemination. 98 Or. App.
responsibilities of parenthood" could not be
at 467-68, 470. Thus the statute did not offend
absolutely barred from asserting his parental
equal protection either on its face or as applied.
rights without a violation of due process. 463
The court also rebuffed the donor's due process U.S. at 261.
challenge to the statute on its face. 98 Or. App.
The McIntyre court reasoned that the Due
at 470. However, the donor also argued that the
Process Clause should afford no less protection
statute violated due process under the federal
to a sperm donor who had facilitated artificial
and state Constitutions as applied to him, a
insemination than an unwed father, "provided
known donor who had an agreement with the
that [the sperm donor] could prove the facts" in
mother to share the rights and responsibilities
his summary judgment affidavit that tended to
of parenthood. The court agreed the statute
70 support the existence of an agreement with *70
would violate the Due Process Clause of the
the mother and his reliance upon it. Because the
Fourteenth Amendment as applied to the donor
court concluded the constitutionality of the
if such an agreement was proved. 98 Or. App. at
Oregon statute as applied to this donor would
470-72.
turn on whether he was given an opportunity to
On this point, the court looked to Lehr v. establish those facts, summary judgment in
Robertson, 463 U.S. 248, 261, 77 L.Ed. 2d 614, 103 favor of the mother was reversed. 98 Or. App. at
S.Ct. 2985 (1983), an adoption case. Lehr dealt 472.
with the necessity of notice of pending adoption
The last of the four cases, C.O. v. W.S., 64 Ohio 71 *71Two of these cases come from Texas. They do
Misc. 2d 9, 639 N.E.2d 523 (1994), also not add much to the legal landscape with which
concluded, as the McIntyre court did, that a we are concerned in this appeal because their
statute purporting to be an absolute bar to outcomes were driven by standing, not an issue
paternity of sperm donors, while constitutional before us. See H.C.S., 219 S.W.3d 33 (known
in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, donor lacked standing to pursue parentage
could be unconstitutional as applied when the adjudication; child conceived through assisted
donor can establish that an agreement to share reproduction by unmarried donor's sister's
parenting existed between him and the same-sex partner using donor's sperm); Sullivan,
unmarried woman who was the recipient of the 157 S.W.3d 911 (known donor had standing to
sperm. 64 Ohio Misc. 2d at 12. maintain paternity action; parties had signed
preinsemination agreement stating donor would
In C.O., the Ohio statute at issue stated: "If a
be treated as if he, mother were married).
woman is the subject of a non-spousal artificial
insemination, a donor shall not be treated in law The third case, Steven S., 127 Cal. App. 4th 319,
or regarded as the natural father of a child from California, involved an unmarried woman
conceived as a result of the artificial and a known sperm donor who tried artificial
insemination, and a child so conceived shall not insemination; when that resulted in a
be treated in law or regarded as the natural child miscarriage, they attempted to conceive through
of the donor." See Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3111.95 sexual intercourse, also without success. Finally,
(Anderson 2003). The statute also required a second artificial insemination attempt
artificial insemination to be conducted under resulted in conception. The donor initially was
the supervision of a physician. As in Jhordan C, very involved with the pregnancy and the child,
an unmarried woman had inseminated herself and he filed a paternity action when the child
with a known donor's sperm. Although the court was 3 years old.
ultimately determined the statute was
The district court noted that California's statute
inapplicable because the mother had failed to
presented a bar to paternity for unmarried
comply with the physician involvement
sperm donors, but ruled in favor of the donor
requirement, it further opined that the statute
based on equitable estoppel. The donor was
would violate due process if applied to the
known; he had engaged in sexual intercourse
donor, because he and the mother, at the time of
with the unwed mother; and she had
the procedure, had agreed there would be a
acknowledged him as the child's father and had
relationship between the donor and the child. 64
allowed him to participate in the pregnancy and
Ohio Misc. 2d at 12.
celebrate the birth of the child. The California
Since the Uniform Act was amended in 2000 to Court of Appeals reversed, holding that the
state simply, "A donor is not a parent of a child "words of [Cal. Fam. Code] section 7613,
conceived by means of assisted reproduction," subdivision (b) are clear" and that, under such
two of our sister states have decided three facts, "[t]here can be no paternity claim"
additional cases addressing statutes with because of the statute's absolute bar. Steven S.,
identical or substantively in-distinguishable 127 Cal. App. 4th at 326.
provisions governing sperm donors and
None of these three decisions raised or reached
unmarried recipients. Steven S. v. Deborah D., 127
the equal protection or due process challenges
Cal. App. 4th 319, 25 Cal. Rptr. 3d 482 (2005); In
raised by the donor here.
re H.C.S., 219 S.W.3d 33 (Tex. App. 2006); In re
Sullivan, 157 S.W.3d 911 (Tex. App. 2005). Where does our Kansas statute fit into this
landscape and its ongoing evolution?
 In 1985, Kansas became one of the states that Ultimately, in view of the requirement that we
adopted portions of the Uniform Parentage Act accept as true D.H.'s evidence supporting
of 1973 regarding presumptions of paternity, but existence of an oral agreement, we are faced
it did not adopt any provision relating to with a very precise question: Does our statute's
artificial insemination. See L. 1985, ch. 114, sec. 5 requirement that any opt-out agreement
(H.B. 2012). between an unmarried mother and a known
sperm donor be "in writing" result in an equal
72 *72 In 1994, Kansas amended its statute to
protection or due process violation? Although
incorporate the 1973 Uniform Act's § 5(b) as
several other states have adopted statutes like
K.S.A. 38-1114(f ). See L. 1994, ch. 292, sec. 5
K.S.A. 38-1114(f ), including language permitting
(Subst. H.B. 2583). It did not differentiate
an unmarried woman and a sperm donor to
between known and unknown or anonymous
avoid the statutory bar and provide for the
donors, but it did make two notable changes in
paternity of the donor through an "agreement in
the uniform language.
writing" — see Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-201
As discussed above, although the 1973 Uniform 73 (2002); *73 Fla. Stat. § 742.14 (2005); N.H. Rev.
Act governed the paternity of children born only Stat. Ann. § 168-B:3(I)(e) (2002); N.J. Stat. Ann.
to married women as a result of artificial § 9:17-44(b) (2002); N.M. Stat Ann. § 40-11-6(B)
insemination with donor sperm, the version (2006) — none of the courts of these states has
adopted by Kansas omitted the word "married." yet subjected such a statute to a constitutional
See K.S.A. 38-1114(f ). This drafting decision crucible. We do so now, as K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) is
demonstrates the legislature's intent that the applied to D.H.
bar to donor paternity apply regardless of
Equal Protection
whether the recipient was married or unmarried.
K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) draws a gender-based line
The other alteration in the 1973 Uniform Act's
between a necessarily female sperm recipient
language is directly at issue here. The Kansas
and a necessarily male sperm donor for an
Legislature provided that a sperm donor and
artificial insemination. By operation of the
recipient could choose to opt out of the donor
statute, the female is a potential parent or actual
paternity bar by written agreement. See K.S.A.
parent under all circumstances; by operation of
38-1114(f ). The legislative record contains no
the same statute, the male will never be a
explanation for this deviation from the 1973
potential parent or actual parent unless there is
Uniform Act's language. See Minutes of the
a written agreement to that effect with the
House Judiciary Committee, January 19, 1994,
female. As discussed with counsel for the parties
and February 25, 1994.
at oral argument before this court, the male's
This second drafting decision is critical and sets ability to insist on father status effectively
this case apart from all precedent. Our statute's disappears once he donates sperm. Until that
allowance for a written agreement to grant a point, he can unilaterally refuse to participate
sperm donor parental rights and responsibilities unless a written agreement on his terms exists.
means that, although we may concur with the After donation, the male cannot force the
McIntyre and C.O. courts in their constitutional fatherhood issue. The female can unilaterally
analyses of absolute-bar statutes, we need not decide if and when to use the donation for
arrive at the same result. K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) artificial insemination and can unilaterally deny
includes exactly the sort of escape clause the any wish of the male for parental rights by
Oregon and Ohio courts found lacking — and refusing to enter into a written agreement.
unconstitutional — in their statutes.
 The guiding principle of equal protection for support from the mothers or the children. It
analysis is that similarly situated individuals protects women recipients as well, preventing
should be treated alike. Cleburne v. Cleburne potential claims of donors to parental rights and
Living Center, Inc., 473 U.S. 432, 439, 87 L.Ed. 2d responsibilities, in the absence of an agreement.
313, 105 S.Ct. 3249 (1985); State v. Limon, 280 Its requirement that any such agreement be in
Kan. 275, 283, 122 P.3d 22 (2005). In Kansas, as writing enhances predictability, clarity, and
before the United States Supreme Court, enforceability. Although the timing of entry into
statutory gender classifications such as this a written agreement is not set out explicitly, the
classification in K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) are subject to design of the statute implicitly encourages early
intermediate, or heightened, scrutiny. Limon, resolution of the elemental question of whether
280 Kan. at 283-87; Chiles, 254 Kan. at 891-93; a donor will have parental rights. Effectively, the
Farley, 241 Kan. at 669; see Reed v. Reed, 404 U.S. parties must decide whether they will enter into
71, 76-77, 30 L.Ed. 2d 225, 92 S.Ct. 251 (1971). In a written agreement before any donation is
order to pass muster under the federal and state made, while there is still balanced bargaining
equal protection provisions, a classification that power on both sides of the parenting equation.
treats otherwise similarly situated individuals
In our view, the statute's gender classification
differently based solely on the individuals'
substantially furthers and is thus substantially
genders must substantially further a legitimate
related to these legitimate legislative purposes
legislative purpose; the government's objective
and important governmental objectives. K.S.A.
must be important, and the classification
38-1114(0 establishes the clear default positions
substantially related to achievement of it.
of parties to artificial insemination. If these
74 Nevada *74 Dept. of Human Resources v. Hibbs, 538
parties desire an arrangement different from the
U.S. 721, 729, 155 L.Ed. 2d 953, 123 S.Ct. 1972
statutory norm, they are free to provide for it, as
(2003); United States v. Virginia, 518 U.S. 515, 533,
long as they do so in writing. Encouraging
135 L.Ed. 2d 735, 116 S.Ct. 2264 (1996); Farley, 241
75 careful consideration of entry into *75
Kan. at 669.
parenthood is admirable. Avoidance of the limbo
Given the biological differences between in which D.H. finds himself is a worthy
females and males and the immutable role those legislative goal. We therefore hold that the
differences play in conceiving and bearing a application of K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) to D.H. does not
child, regardless of whether conception is violate equal protection.
achieved through sexual intercourse or artificial
Due Process
insemination, we are skeptical that S.H. and
D.H. are truly similarly situated. However, Neither D.H. nor the Center explicitly addresses
assuming for purposes of argument that they whether the due process challenge to K.S.A. 38-
are, we perceive several legitimate legislative 1114(f ) in this case is based on procedural due
purposes or important governmental objectives process principles or substantive due process
underlying K.S.A. 38-1114(f ). doctrine. Nor did the Oregon or Ohio courts
that decided McIntyre and C.O. draw this
As the McIntyre court observed about the
distinction or comment upon it. See 98 Or. App.
Oregon statute, K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) envisions that
at 471-72; 64 Ohio Misc. 2d at 12. To the extent
both married and unmarried women may
D.H.'s due process argument is couched in
become parents without engaging in sexual
procedural language, i.e., that K.S.A. 38-1114(f )'s
intercourse, either because of personal choice or
requirement of a writing, strictly interpreted,
because a husband or partner is infertile,
denies him "a meaningful opportunity to be
impotent, or ill. It encourages men who are able
heard" on the claim that there was, in fact, an
and willing to donate sperm to such women by
oral agreement, we simply disagree. Indeed, for
protecting the men from later unwanted claims
 purposes of ruling on the propriety of the notified of the adoption proceedings. A New
district judge's summary disposition in favor of York statute guaranteed protection of any
S.H., we accept D.H.'s evidence that there was interest such a putative father could have in
an oral agreement. Still, he has been denied no assuming a responsible role in the future of his
procedural right to which he was entitled; the child: The father in Lehr had failed to avail
statute merely sets up a burden of proof that his himself of this protection and had taken no
own inaction before donating his sperm left him other action that would have established a
unable to meet. protectable interest in the child. While a state
may not absolutely bar a biological parent from
D.H.'s ignorance of the statute's requirement of
asserting parental rights — the proposition for
a writing to record any agreement between him
which D.H. and the Center cite Lehr — Kansas
and S.H. as to his parental rights does not
has not done so. Even a sperm donor with no
necessitate a ruling that the statute cannot be
relationship to a child's mother can forge and
constitutionally applied to him. See Jhordan C. v.
protect his parental rights by insisting on a
Mary K, 179 Cal. App. 3d 386, 389, 224 Cal. Rptr.
written agreement.
530 (1986) (court analyzes applicability of
artificial insemination statute despite parties' D.H. and the Center argue that D.H.'s other
ignorance of it); see also Lehr v. Robertson, 463 efforts to assert his entitlement to and
U.S. 248, 264, 77 L.Ed. 2d 614, 103 S. Ct. 2985 intention to exercise parental rights — stymied,
(1983) (failure to file with putative father they say, by S.H. — should be enough. S.H., of
registry out of ignorance of law insufficient course, casts D.H.'s behavior in a considerably
reason to criticize law itself ); State ex rel. Murray less favorable light. Again, however, for
v. Palmgren, 231 Kan. 524, 536, 646 P.2d 1091 purposes of review of the district judge's
(1982) (ignorance of the law is no excuse). It is summary deposition in S.H.'s favor, we accept
apparent to us that the only potentially D.H.'s version of events. The infirmity in his
meritorious due process argument before us substantive due process argument does not lie
focuses on the assertion of D.H.'s fundamental in those factual allegations for which he has
right to care, custody, and control of his provided evidence in the record, including his
children. This raises a substantive due process allegation of an oral agreement; the infirmity
concern, rather than a problem over the absence lies in the absence of any proof of an agreement
76 of a *76 specific procedural protection. Indeed, if with S.H. in writing.
anything, D.H. and the Center advocate for less
We simply are not persuaded that the
rather than more formality in process; they
requirement of a writing transforms what is an
regard the requirement of a writing to
otherwise constitutional statute into one that
memorialize any agreement between a sperm
violates D.H.'s substantive due process rights.
donor and a recipient as so heavy a procedural
Although we agree with the Center that one goal
burden that it tips the constitutional scales in
77 of the Kansas Parentage Act as a *77 whole is to
favor of D.H. here.
encourage fathers to voluntarily acknowledge
In addition to relying on McIntyre and C.O., paternity and child support obligations, the
which, as previously discussed, addressed obvious impact of the plain language of this
complete-bar statutes unlike our own, D.H. and particular provision in the Act is to prevent the
the Center emphasize the United States creation of parental status where it is not
Supreme Court's decision in Lehr. See 463 U.S. desired or expected. To a certain extent, D.H.
at 261. Lehr's facts limit its utility here. As and the Center evidently misunderstand the
mentioned above, that case involved an unwed statute's mechanism. It ensures no attachment of
biological father petitioning to set aside an parental rights to sperm donors in the absence
order of adoption based on his failure to be
 of a written agreement to the contrary; it does Insemination And A Model for Legislative Reform, 19
not cut off rights that have already arisen and Am. J. L. Med. 285, 304 (1993) (absence of
attached. executed writing evidence donor failed to, in
words of Lehr, "grasp opportunity" to parent;
We are confident this legislative design realizes
chance to condition donation upon execution of
the expectation of unknown or anonymous
agreement puts donor in control). The
sperm donors, whether their motive for
requirement that a sperm donor's and
participation in artificial insemination is
recipient's agreement be in writing does not
altruistic or financial. To the extent it does not
violate D.H.'s due process rights.
realize the expectation of a known sperm donor,
the statute tells him exactly how to opt out, how All of this being said, we cannot close our
to become and remain a father. If, as the Center discussion of the constitutionality of K.S.A. 38-
argues, genetic relationship must be destiny, 1114(f ) without observing that all that is
then an anonymous donor with no intention to constitutional is not necessarily wise. We are
be a father would nevertheless automatically mindful of, and moved by, the Center's advocacy
become one. It is evident to us the legislature for public policy to maximize the chance of the
chose an alternate arrangement. Neither D.H. availability of two parents — and two parents'
nor the Center has convinced us there is a resources — to Kansas children. We are also
constitutional mandate for this court to make an aware of continued evolution in regulation of
independent policy choice. artificial insemination in this and other
countries. In particular, Britain and The
We also reject the argument from D.H. and the
Netherlands now ban anonymous sperm
Center that the statute inevitably makes the
donations, near-perfect analogs to donations
female the sole arbiter of whether a male can be
from known donors who will have no role
a father to a child his sperm helps to conceive.
beyond facilitating artificial insemination.
This may be true, as we discussed above, once a
These shifts formally recognize the
donation is made, a recipient who becomes
understandable desires of at least some children
pregnant through artificial insemination using
conceived through artificial insemination to
that donation can refuse to enter into an
know the males from whom they have received
agreement to provide for donor paternity. This
half of their genes. The Human Fertilisation and
does not make the requirement of written
Embryology Authority Act of 1990, as amended
agreement unconstitutional. Indeed, it is
by Disclosure of Donor Information,
consistent with United States Supreme Court
Regulations 2004 No. 1511 (requiring, effective
precedent making even a married pregnant
April 2005, British donors' identities to be made
woman the sole arbiter, regardless of her
available to donor-conceived children when
husband's wishes, of whether she continues a
children become 18); Netherlands Embryos Bill,
pregnancy to term. See Planned Parenthood of
Article 3 Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and
Missouri v. Danforth, 428 U.S. 52, 69-71, 49 L.Ed.
Sport (2004) www.minvws.nl/en (effective June
2d 788, 96 S. Ct. 2831 (1976). As discussed above,
2004, child born using donated sperm has right
before a donation is made, a prospective donor
to obtain information about biological father at
has complete autonomy to refuse to facilitate an
age 16). As one such child recently wrote,
artificial insemination unless he gets an
agreement in writing to his paternity terms.
This is more than most fathers, wed or unwed to
their children's mothers, can ever hope for. See
Note and Comment, A Tale of Three Women: A
78 Survey of the Rights *78 and Responsibilities of
Unmarried Women Who Conceive by Alternative
 "[t]hose of us created with donated purely, and solely, biological. It does not give
sperm won't stay bubbly babies forever. rise to a constitutionally protected right. See
We're all going to grow into adults, and Lehr, 463 U.S. at 261.
form opinions about the decision to
When we are called upon to interpret a statute,
bring us into the world in a way that
we first attempt to give effect to the intent of
deprives us of the basic right to know
the legislature as expressed through the
where we came from, what our history is
language enacted. When a statute is plain and
and who both our parents are."
unambiguous, we do not speculate as to the
Clark, My Father was an Anonymous Sperm Donor, legislative intent behind it and will not read the
The Washington Post, December 17, 2006, at statute to add something not readily found in it.
79 B01 (also currently available *79 at We need not resort to statutory construction. It
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- is only if the statute's language or text is unclear
dyn/eontent/article/2006/12/15/ or ambiguous that we move to the next
AR2006121501820.html). We sympathize. analytical step, applying canons of construction
However, weighing of the interests of all or relying on legislative history construing the
involved in these procedures as well as the statute to effect the legislature's intent. See CPI
public policies that are furthered by favoring Qualified Plan Consultants, Inc. v. Kansas Dept. of
one or another in certain circumstances, is the 80 *80 Human Resources, 272 Kan. 1288, 1296, 38 P.3d
charge of the Kansas Legislature, not of this 666 (2002); State v. Robinson, 281 Kan. 538, 539-
court. 40, 132 P.3d 934 (2006).

" Provided to a Licensed Physician" Again, K.S.A. 38-1114(0 states in pertinent part:
"The donor of semen provided to a licensed
D.H.'s next argument on appeal is that the
physician for use in artificial insemination of a
district judge erred in applying K.S.A. 38-1114(f )
woman other than the donor's wife is treated in
to him because his sperm was not "provided to a
law as if he were not the birth father of a child. .
licensed physician," as required by the statute.
. ." D.H.'s argument focuses on the phrase
Instead, it was provided to S.H., who, in turn,
"provided to licensed physician," essentially
provided it to the medical personnel who
reading it to say " directly and personally provided
performed the insemination.
to a licensed physician" or "provided to a
D.H. opens this argument by citing a Kansas licensed physician by the donor." This argument
Court of Appeals case involving a petition to lacks merit.
terminate the rights of a putative father for the
The language of the statute is clear and
proposition that "[statutes pertaining to
unambiguous, and we will not add to it, as D.H.
adoption, relinquishment, or termination of
suggests. The words "the donor" form the
parental rights are strictly construed as they
subject of the predicate "is treated as if he were
affect a parent's liberty interest in the custody
not the birth father." The lengthy dependent
and control of his or her children." In re J.A.C.,
clause "provided to a licensed physician for use
22 Kan. App. 2d 96, Syl. ¶ 3, 911 P.2d 825 (1996).
in artificial insemination of a woman other than
This case has no influence on our de novo
the donor's wife" modifies "semen." K.S.A. 38-
standard of review here. As discussed at length
1114(f ) does not require the donor himself to
with regard to the constitutionality of K.S.A. 38-
provide his sperm to the physician performing
1114(f ), absent a written agreement to the
the insemination. It requires only that the
contrary, D.H. is not a putative father. He is a
donor's sperm be provided to the physician by
sperm donor only. His link to the twins is
 an unspecified someone or something. The fact that been an odd procedural vehicle for effecting
S.H. was that someone here did not prevent S.H.'s desire — a court order stating that D.H.
application of the statute to this situation. never acquired any parental rights under K.S.A.
38-1] 14(f ). A declaratory judgment action might
" Unless Agreed to in Writing" have been better suited to her legal position.
Assuming arguendo the constitutionality and But she and her counsel were in uncharted
applicability of K.S.A. 38-1114(f ), D.H. next waters. We will not hold that the pleadings
argues that the statute's requirement of a constitute a written agreement by operation of
written agreement should be deemed satisfied law.
by the CINC petition filed by S.H. or by the
CINC petition and his paternity petition, read Parental Rights Under K.S.A. 38-
together. He asserts that the statute sets forth 1114(a)(4)
no requirement that a written agreement be In the final paragraphs of his brief on appeal,
entered into at or before the time of the D.H. argues that this case should be controlled
insemination and points out that the CINC by K.S.A. 38-1114(a)(4) rather than K.S.A. 38-
petition referred to him "56 times" as the 1114(0. K.S.A. 38-1.114(a)(4) provides:
twins`"father." S.H. argues that there was no
"(a) A man is presumed to be the father
"meeting of the minds" between her and D.H.
of a child if:
regarding coparenting and that the pleadings
evidence none. ....
There is no technical definition of "agreed to" or "(4) The man notoriously or in writing
"writing" in the Kansas Parentage Act of which recognizes paternity of the child,
K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) is a part. Although these words including but not limited to a voluntary
or forms of them are defined elsewhere in acknowledgment made [by amendment
Kansas statutes, see, e.g., K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 84-1- of birth certificate] in accordance with
81 201(3) (defining *81 "agreement" as used in K.S.A. 38-1130 or [filing of birth
Kansas version of Uniform Commercial Code); certificate under K.S.A.] 65-2409a, and
K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 84-1-201(46) (defining amendments thereto."
"written," "writing" as used in same), these
definitions, by their terms, are inapplicable. We In his brief before the district court, D.II.
therefore give these words as used in K.S.A. 38- attempted to reserve "the right to make claims
1114(f ) the meaning accorded them in everyday based on ratification, estoppel, and common
English. Sec GT, Kansas, L.L.C. v. Riley County law," but this specific contention under K.S.A.
Register of Deeds, 271 Kan. 311, 316, 22 P.3d 600 38-1114(a)(4) was never raised below.
(2001). Nevertheless, given the status of this case as
one of first impression and the potential for
When we do so, there can be no doubt that the 82 denial of fundamental *82 rights, see In re
pleadings filed by the parties are "in writing." M.M.L., 258 Kan. 254, 261, 900 P.2d 813 (1995),
However, interpreting them separately or we address its merit.
together to prove the parties "agreed to" D.H.'s
status as a father would require Lewis Carroll's A specific statute controls over a general
looking glass. The absence of such an agreement statute. See State ex rel. Tomasic v. Unified Gov. of
necessitated the drafting and filing of the Wyandotte C.O./Kansas City, 264 Kan. 293, 311, 955
pleadings in the first place. Their existence and P.2d 1136 (1998). Likewise, a specific provision
substance do not memorialize accord, rather, its within a statute controls over a more general
opposite. A CINC petition to terminate D.H.'s provision within the statute. K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) is
parental rights under K.S.A. 38-1531 may have far more specific to cases involving artificial
 insemination by a sperm donor such as D.H. conduct by S.H. The evidence he presented to
than the general presumption of paternity set the district court focused only on the existence
out in K.S.A. 38-1114(a)(4). D.H.'s claim under of an oral agreement and his efforts at support;
K.S.A. 38-1114(a)(4) is without merit. even assuming all of this evidence to be true, it
is insufficient under what we have held is a
Equity constitutional statute.
For the first time in his appellate reply brief,
Generally speaking, mere ignorance of the law is
D.H. asserts that the district court must be
no excuse for failing to abide by it. State ex rel.
reversed because S.H. has "unclean hands." In
Murray v. Palmgren, 231 Kan. 524, 536, 646 P.2d
essence, he argues that he, a nonlawyer, was
1091 (1982). There may be a case in the future in
tricked by lawyer S.H., who failed to inform him
which a donor can prove that the existence of
of the statute and failed to explain how the
K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) was concealed, or that he was
absence of independent legal advice or a written
fraudulently induced not to obtain independent
agreement could affect his legal rights. He
legal advice or not to enter into a written
asserts that he asked S.H. about whether he
agreement to ensure creation and preservation
needed a lawyer or whether they should put
of his parental rights to a child conceived
their arrangement in writing and was told
through artificial insemination. This is not such
neither was necessary. This behavior, he alleges,
a case.
may have constituted a violation of S.H.'s ethical
duties as a licensed lawyer. Affirmed.
Despite D.H.'s attempt in his district court brief ALLECRUCCI, NUSS, LUCKERT, and ROSEN,
to reserve "the right to make claims based on JJ, not participating.
ratification, estoppel, and common law," this
invocation of equity was never further LOCKETT, J., Retired, CAPLINGER and HILL,
preserved for review by pursuit in the district JJ, assigned.
court or by inclusion in his opening appellate 1 1REPORTER'S NOTE: Justice Tyler C.

brief. See McGinley v. Bank of America, N.A., 279 Lockett, Retired, was appointed to hear
Kan. 426, 444, 109 P.3d 1146 (2005) (issue not case No. 96,102 vice Justice Allegrucci
briefed by appellant deemed waived, pursuant to the authority vested in the
abandoned); Titterington v. Brooke Insurance, 277 Supreme Court by K.S.A. 20-2616. Judge
Kan. 888, Syl. ¶ 3, 89 P.3d 643 (2004) ("[a] point Nancy L. Caplinger and Judge Stephen D.

raised only incidentally in a party's brief but not Hill, of the Kansas Court of Appeals,

argued in the brief is deemed abandoned"); were appointed to hear case No. 96,102
vice Justices Luckert and Rosen
Board of Lincoln County Comm'rs v. Nielander, 275
respectively pursuant to the authority
Kan. 257, 268, 62 P.3d 247 (2003) (issue not
vested in the Supreme Court by K.S.A.
raised in district court not preserved for
20-3002(c).
appellate court). Even if we would nonetheless
be inclined to reach its merit, given the posture
McFARLAND, C.J., concurring:
of the case and the fundamental nature of the
rights in play, we also are prevented from doing I agree with the majority's conclusion that
so by an inadequate appellate record of the K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) is constitutionally permissible
83 underlying *83 facts. See State ex rel. Stovall v. and operates to bar D.H. from asserting parental
Alivio, 275 Kan. 169, 172, 61 P.3d 687 (2003) (duty rights relative to the twins K.M.H. and K.C.H.
of party to furnish appellate record sufficient to
enable review of issue). D.H. never proffered I think it is helpful to consider subsection (0 in
evidence to support his assertions of nefarious context with other provisions of K.S.A. 38-1114.
The statute is lengthy and states the
 presumptions of paternity in various factual "(4) The man notoriously or in writing
situations. Illustrative thereof is the following recognizes paternity of the child,
excerpt: including but not limited to a voluntary
acknowledgment made in accordance
"(a) A man is presumed to be the father
with K.S.A. 38-1130 or 65-2409a, and
of a child if:
amendments thereto.
84 *84 "(1) The man and the child's mother
"(5) Genetic test results indicate a
are, or have been, married to each other
probability of 97% or greater that the
and the child is born during the marriage
man is the father of the child." K.S.A. 38-
or within 300 days after the marriage is
1114(a).
terminated by death or by the filing of a
journal entry of a decree of annulment or The statute further provides:
divorce.
"(b) A presumption under this section
"(2) Before the child's birth, the man and may be rebutted only by clear and
the child's mother have attempted to convincing evidence, by a court decree
marry each other by a marriage establishing paternity of the child by
solemnized in apparent compliance with another man or as provided in subsection
law, although the attempted marriage is (c). If a presumption is rebutted, the
void or voidable and: party alleging the existence of a father
and child relationship shall have the
(A) If the attempted marriage is voidable,
burden of going forward with the
the child is born during the attempted
evidence.
marriage or within 300 days after its
termination by death or by the filing of a ....
journal entry of a decree of annulment or
"(e) If a presumption arises under this
divorce; or
section, the presumption shall be
(B) if the attempted marriage is void, the sufficient basis for entry of an order
child is born within 300 days after the requiring the man to support the child
termination of cohabitation. without further paternity proceedings."
K.S.A. 38-1114(b), (e).
"(3) After the child's birth, the man and
the child's mother have married, or The bulk of the statute is concerned with
attempted to marry, each other by a establishing presumptions as to the paternity of
marriage solemnized in apparent a child. These are presumptions that may be
compliance with law, although the rebutted. Subsection (f ) is the final provision of
attempted marriage is void or voidable that statute and is in stark contrast to the rest
and: of the statute. No presumption is involved
therein. Subsection (f ) states:
(A) The man has acknowledged paternity
of the child in writing; 85 *85 "(f ) The donor of semen provided to a
licensed physician for use in artificial
(B) with the man's consent, the man is
insemination of a woman other than the
named as the child's father on the child's
donor's wife is treated in law as if lie
birth certificate; or
were not the birth father of a child
(C) the man is obligated to support the thereby conceived, unless agreed to in
child under a written voluntary promise writing by the donor and the woman."
or by a court order. K.S.A. 38-1114(f )
The biological father of a child conceived under 86 *86 Further, as the majority notes, it is not
the circumstance described therein is to be ruling out the possibility that some future
treated in law as not being the birth father, factual situation might result in the statutory
absent an agreement in writing. bar being held inapplicable under those specific
facts.
To come under the statute, an unmarried
woman must desire to be impregnated by
CAPLINGER, J., dissenting:
artificial insemination in a procedure by a
licensed physician. She could elect to have an I respectfully disagree with the majority's
anonymous donor from a sperm bank. The analysis of the constitutionality of K.S.A. 38-
statute would bar the donor from the rights of 1114(f ) as applied to D.H. I would hold the
parentage even if his identity were later statute unconstitutional as applied to D.H. for
determined. If the woman elects to ask an the reason that it violates his fundamental right
acquaintance to be the donor and he agrees, he to parent his children without due process of
has no parentage rights unless the parties agree law.
thereto in writing. If the parties agree in
In reaching its conclusion that K.S.A. 38-1114(f )
writing, the donor is assuming not: only the
comports with due process, the majority
privileges associated with parenthood but the
analyzes at least two extra-jurisdictional cases
possible financial burden of child support for 18
which hold that statutes creating an absolute bar
years or so. The man might feel flattered to be
to donor paternity violate due process rights as
asked to be the donor and even be assured no
applied to a known donor: McIntyre v. Crouch, 98
child support would ever be sought. Without the
Or. App. 462, 780 P.2d 239 (1989), cert denied 495
statute, the donor would likely have no defense
U.S. 905 (1990). (Oregon statute's absolute bar
to child support claims asserted by the mother
to paternity violated due process as applied to
or the child.
known sperm donor if donor could establish on
Under the statute, absent an agreement in remand that he and child's mother agreed that
writing, the prospective mother would truly donor would be the natural father of the child);
become a single parent upon a successful and C.O. v. W.S., 64 Ohio Misc. 2d 9, 639 N.E.2d
pregnancy, having assumed all parental 523 (1994) (Ohio statute's absolute bar to
privileges, duties, and obligations to any child paternity of known donor violated due process
born as a result of the artificial insemination. If as applied to donor where mother solicited
the donor she sought out wants to assume participation of donor and agreed that known
parental privileges and responsibilities, and the donor would have relationship with child).
prospective mother does not want this and will
Significantly, the majority concurs with "the
not agree, the would-be donor can say no deal
McIntyre and C.O. courts in their constitutional
and walk away. There is no child and no issue as
analyses of absolute bar statutes." 285 Kan. at
to future rights and/or duties of the would-be
72. Nevertheless, the majority concludes it need
donor. The prospective mother can seek out a
not arrive at the same result because "K.S.A. 38-
sperm bank, another artificial insemination
1114(f ) provides exactly the sort of escape clause
donor, proceed in some other manner outside
the Oregon and Ohio courts found lacking —
the subsection, or abandon the idea of
and unconstitutional — in their statutes." 285
pregnancy. The subsection (f ) provision appears
Kan. at 72.
to be aimed at protecting both parties from
unwanted duties and/or obligations being I agree with the majority's conclusion that
imposed without their consent in the very "absolute bar" statutes like those at issue in
limited factual situation to which it applies. McIntyre and C.O. violate due process. I do not
 agree, however, that the K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) determine whether the addition of an opt-out
provision permitting a donor to "opt out" of the provision like that at issue here would have
statute's paternity bar saved the statute's resolved its due process concerns.
constitutionality under the facts of this case.
Moreover, while the court in C.O. did point out
The statutory provision at issue here bears that a statute that "absolutely extinguishes a
repetition at this juncture. K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) father's efforts to assert the rights and
provides: responsibilities of being a father . . . runs
contrary to due process standards," it did not
"The donor of semen provided to a
compare any statutes containing a written opt-
licenced physician for use in artificial
out provision. Further, it found its own statute
insemination of a woman other than the
lacking because it did not take into account the
donor's wife is treated in law as if he
parties' oral agreement that the donor would
87 were *87 not the birth father of a child
have a relationship with any child conceived of
thereby conceived, unless agreed to in
the insemination. 64 Ohio Misc. 2d at 12. The
writing by the donor and the woman."
court in C.O. did not, as the majority suggests,
(Emphasis added.)
indicate that a written opt-out agreement would
Before discussing the specific basis for my have ameliorated the court's due process
disagreement with the majority's conclusion concerns.
that the italicized proviso renders the statute
In fact, the expansive rationale in C.O. suggests
constitutional as applied to D.H., I would first
otherwise:
note that neither the McIntyre court nor the
C.O. court found, as the majority suggests, that 88 *88 "Public policy supports the concept of
their respective state statutes were legitimacy, and the concomitant rights of
unconstitutional because they lacked an "escape a child to support and inheritance.
clause" providing for a written agreement [Citation omitted.] A father's voluntary
between the parties. assumption of fiscal responsibility for
his child should be endorsed as a socially
The court in McIntyre found the applicable
responsible action." 64 Ohio Misc. 2d at
statute problematic because it barred the
12.
petitioner from the rights and responsibilities
of fatherhood "even if respondent had agreed Thus, while the courts in C.O. and McIntyre
with [the donor that he would have parental suggested that it was their respective statute's
rights] before he gave her his semen in reliance "absolute bar" that ran afoul of due process
on that agreement." 98 Or. App. at 468. The safeguards, neither court held that a
court noted the statute contained no qualifying requirement permitting the parties to opt out of
language and, in a footnote, compared a the statute, so long as the agreement was
Washington state statute which contained a memorialized in writing, would satisfy due
written opt-out provision similar to that found process safeguards. As the majority recognizes,
in K.S.A. 38-1114(f ). 98 Or. App. at 468 n. 2; see no court has considered the specific issue facing
also In Interest of R.C., 775 P.2d 27, 33 n. 7 (Colo. this court.
1989) (recognizing in footnote that "[a] growing
For the reasons discussed below, I would find
number of legislatures have sought to clear up
that K.S.A. 38-1114(f )'s inclusion of a written
this confusion by enacting laws that extinguish
"opt-out" provision does not save it from the
parental rights of semen donors unless the
same fate as the statutes considered by the
donor acknowledges his paternity in writing").
The court in McIntyre, however, did not
 courts in McIntyre and C.O. — i.e., it is States Constitution. See, e.g., Troxel, 530 U.S. at
unconstitutional because it violates due process 65-66; Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, 651-52, 31
as applied to the donor. L.Ed. 2d 551, 92 S.Ct. 1208 (1972).

Requirement that donor take affirmative The Supreme Court has further consistently
action to protect his parental rights held that courts must "indulge every reasonable
presumption against waiver of fundamental
In concluding that the opt-out provision in
constitutional rights." Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S.
K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) satisfies due process
458, 464, 82 L.Ed. 1461, 58 S.Ct. 1019 (1938). "A
requirements, the majority states that D.H.'s
waiver is ordinarily an intentional
"own inaction before donating his sperm" left
relinquishment or abandonment of a known
him unable to meet the statute's requirements
right or privilege" and thus must result from a
of a written agreement. 285 Kan. at 75.
free and conscious choice. 304 U.S. at 464. And,
(Emphasis added.) Therein lies the
when faced with a waiver of a fundamental right,
constitutional problem with the statute.
courts "do not presume acquiescence in the loss
Fundamental rights must be actively waived,
of fundamental rights." 304 U.S. at 464; see also
rather than passively lost due to inaction.
Hodges v. Easton, 106 U.S. (16 Otto) 408, 412, 27
Initially, before analyzing this issue, I would L.Ed. 169, 1 S.Ct. 307 (1882) (right to trial by
note that the terminology employed by the jury in a civil case is a fundamental right and
majority, i.e., that D.H. failed to "opt out" of the every reasonable presumption must be indulged
statute, is a misnomer. In effect, the statute against its waiver).
requires a known sperm donor, regardless of any
The majority recognizes that K.S.A. 38-1114(f )
agreement or understanding the donor may have
permits a donor to waive his right to parent
as to his role in parenting a child conceived from
simply by his own inaction rather than through
his sperm, to opt in to parenthood or forever
an intentional act relinquishing that right. For
waive his right to parent. As discussed below,
this reason, I would find the statute's "escape
under the circumstances of this case, the
clause" does not satisfy due process
statute's requirement that D.H. take affirmative
requirements.
action to preserve his fundamental right to
parent, or to "opt in" to parenting, violates Effect of "ignorance of the law" on an
fundamental principles of due process. individual's fundamental right to parent
89 *89 Pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment to Nor can I agree with the majority's conclusion
the United States Constitution, no State shall that D.H.'s ignorance of the statute's writing
"deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, requirement has no effect on the statute's
without the due process of law." The Supreme application. 285 Kan. at 75. In support of this
Court has held that the Fourteenth Amendment determination, the majority essentially
"guarantees more than fair process" and reiterates the often-stated principle that
"includes a substantive component that "ignorance of the law is no excuse," and cites
`provides heightened protection against 90 three cases in *90 support of its application of
government interference with certain this principle to the facts here: Lehr v. Robertson,
fundamental rights and liberty interests.' 463 U.S. 248, 264, 77 L.Ed. 2d 614, 103 S.Ct. 2985
[Citation omitted.]" Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. (1983); Jhordan C. v. Mary K, 179 Cal. App. 3d 386,
57, 65, 147 L.Ed. 2d 49, 120 S. Ct. 2054 (2000). It 389, 224 Cal. Rptr. 530 (1986); and State ex rel.
is well established that the right to parent is a Murray v. Palmgren, 231 Kan. 524, 536, 646 P.2d
fundamental right protected by the United 1091 (1982). However, none of these cases hold
that an individual can relinquish a fundamental
right simply through ignorance of the law.
 As the majority notes, the Kansas Supreme should receive notice of adoption when that
Court held in Murray, 231 Kan. at 536, that " father never established a relationship with his
[i]gnorance of the law is no excuse." Further, child and further failed to comply with a New
the court referred to the "impressive body of York law requiring him to file notice with a
authority and the ancient maxim" supporting putative father registry. The Court recognized
this statement. 231 Kan. at 536. However, the that familial relationships are "an interest in
question before the court in Murray was not liberty entitled to constitutional protection"
whether an individual may waive a fundamental and state statutes that take away this right must
right by ignorance of a law requiring affirmative comport with the Due Process Clause of the
action to protect that right. Rather, the question Fourteenth Amendment to the United States
in Murray was whether the meetings conducted Constitution. 463 U.S. at 258.
by the board of trustees of a county hospital
As the majority points out, the Lehr Court held
were covered by the Kansas Open Meetings Act,
that the putative father's ignorance of the
in light of the board members' claim that any
requirement that he must mail a postcard to the
violation of the Act was in "good faith" because
putative father registry to guarantee his right to
they had been advised by the county attorney
receive notice of the adoption proceedings of
that their meetings were not covered by the Act.
his daughter was not a "sufficient reason to
I simply cannot equate such "ignorance," and
criticize the law itself." 463 U.S. at 264.
the effect of such ignorance, with a father's
preconception waiver of his right to parent a However, the majority's focus on this aspect of
child because of his ignorance of a statute the Lehr decision is misplaced in light of Lehr's
requiring him to "opt in" to parenting. recognition and characterization of a father's
fundamental rights to parent.
Jhordan C., 179 Cal. App. 3d 386, also cited by the
majority, is unpersuasive for the obvious reason The Lehr Court noted it was not concerned with
that it is not precedential authority. More whether the father had a significant relationship
importantly, while the majority cites Jhordan C. with his biological daughter but, instead, was
in support of its statement that D.H.'s focused on whether New York protected his
ignorance of our Kansas statute does not opportunity as a father to form that relationship. 463
preclude its application here, the court in U.S. at 262. The Court examined New York's
Jhordan made no determination whatsoever as putative father registry and found that because
to whether a donor's ignorance of a California the biological father retained the control to
statute would suffice to waive his fundamental receive notice of adoption proceedings, the Due
right to parent. Instead, the Jhordan C. court Process Clause was not violated. 463 U.S. at 264.
merely noted in reciting the factual background
In so ruling, the Court noted that the impetus
that the parties were "completely unaware of
for New York's putative father registry was the
the existence" of the statute. 179 Cal. App. 3d at
holding in Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, where
389. Moreover, the court in Jhordan C.
the Supreme Court struck down a statute that
ultimately concluded California's statute could
automatically classified any man who fathered a
not bar the donor's rights because the donor's
child out of wed-lock as an unfit parent. The
sperm had not been provided to a licensed
Court in Lehr further noted that a special
physician. 179 Cal. App. 3d at 397-98.
committee charged by the New York Legislature
91 *91 The third case cited by the majority in with forming the law after Stanley was supposed
support of its conclusion that the donor's to "accommodate both the interests of the
"ignorance of the law is no excuse," is Lehr, 463 biological fathers in their children and the
U.S. at 264. There, the United States Supreme children's interests in prompt and certain
Court considered whether a biological father adoption procedures." 463 U.S. at 263.
92 *92 Thus, when considering Lehr and its acquires substantial protection under the Due
application here, it is vital to remember the Process Clause." 463 U.S. at 261 (quoting Caban,
Court upheld a statute that terminated the 441 U.S. at 392).
parental rights of a biological father, but it did
That is the scenario with which this court is
so in the context of a pending adoption
faced. A putative father has come forward to
proceeding. Because a nonbiological father
participate in the rearing of his children,
figure was ready, willing, and able to assume the
emotionally and financially; consequently, his
responsibilities of parenthood, the Lehr Court
interest in doing so is entitled to full protection
found no reason to delay the child's adoption
under the Due Process Clause. Instead of being
simply because the previously absentee
given this protection and an opportunity to
biological father suddenly asserted rights, yet
93 prove *93 that he intended to actively parent his
failed to take the steps necessaryas provided by
children, D.H. has been subjected to the
a statuteto preserve those rights. 463 U.S. at
workings of a statute of which he was unaware,
264-65.
that required him to "opt in" to fatherhood
Placed in context, the Lehr Court's affirmance of before ever donating his sperm, or be forever
the termination of the biological father's barred from parenting his children.
parental rights makes sense, and the Court's
I strongly disagree with the majority's
observation that "`[p]arental rights do not
conclusion that D.H.'s own inaction, whether
spring full-blown from the biological connection
due to ignorance of the law or otherwise,
between parent and child`" is merited. 463 U.S.
constituted a waiver of his rights to parent.
at 260 (quoting Caban v. Mohammed, 441 U.S.
Because the rights to parent are fundamental,
380, 397, 60 L.Ed. 2d 297, 99 S.Ct. 1760
those rights may be waived only through an
[Stewart, J., dissenting] [ruling that the
intentional, free, and meaningful choice. Here,
adoption of two children by their stepfather
the record indicates D.H. was not even aware of
would violate the Equal Protection rights of the
K.S.A. 38-1114(f ), much less its requirement that
biological father, who had constantly been
he must enter into a written agreement
involved with the lives of the children]).
formalizing his intent to parent his child before
Here, however, we are not faced with a situation he provided his sperm to S.H. I would find the
in which an additional party seeks to assert statute's requirement that a known sperm donor
parental rights; instead, only the biological affirmatively take action to preserve his
father seeks to assert his rights to parent his fundamental rights to parent constituted a
children. Thus, the need for a determination of violation of due process as applied to D.H.
parental rights does not exist in the same
urgency that it exists in an adoption situation The State's interest in furthering
where all parries involved, particularly the child, predictability, clarity, and enforceability
are best served with clear laws and a certain The majority declares that the K.S.A. 38-1114(f )
ruling. requirement that any agreement regarding
parenting be in writing "enhances predictability,
I would urge the majority to consider the
clarity, and enforceability." 285 Kan. at 74.
complete rationale of Lehr: "When an unwed
Further, it suggests that "avoidance of the limbo
father demonstrates a full commitment to the
in which D.H. finds himself in is a worthy
responsibilities of parenthood by `com[ing]
legislative goal." 285 Kan. at 75.
forward to participate in the rearing of his child,'
his interest in personal contact with his child "Clarity," while an admirable goal, has little do
with the constitutionality of this statute.
Significantly, in Stanley, 405 U.S. 645, the United
 States Supreme Court addressed the allegations Kansas law provides a presumption that sperm
of clarity and administrative convenience as donors are not the legal parents of any children
justifications for a purported violation of the conceived of the donated sperm, absent a
Due Process Clause. There, an unwed father written agreement. In the case of a known
challenged an Illinois statute which resulted in sperm donor and an unmarried woman,
his classification as an unfit father and the however, the donor should be allowed the
removal of his children from their home after opportunity for a hearing to establish his intent
the death of the mother because he had not been to be something other than a sperm "donor" —
married to the children's mother. The State i.e., to establish his paternity and rights as a
argued it was unnecessary to hold individualized parent. Simply stated, I would find the statute's
hearings to determine the fitness of unwed clarity does not justify its constitutional
fathers before those fathers were separated violation.
from their children because unmarried fathers
The requirement of a "writing" under K.S.A. 38-
were "per se" unfit.
1114(f)
The Supreme Court disagreed and ruled in
It is interesting to note that in considering
accordance with the Due Process Clause that
whether the K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) writing
94 Stanley was entitled to a fitness hearing *94
requirement may be met by considering S.H.'s
before his children were taken from him. 405
averments in her pleadings, the majority
U.S. at 649. The Court specifically addressed the
references Lewis Carroll's "looking glass." 285
argument that individualized hearings for
Kan. at 81. ("[I]nterpreting [pleadings]
unmarried fathers would create an
separately or together to prove the parties
administrative inconvenience and noted that
`agreed' to D.H.'s status as a father would
although the State has an interest in prompt
require Lewis Carroll's looking glass."). While I
procedures, "the Constitution recognizes higher
agree with the majority that we cannot interpret
values than speed and efficiency." 405 U.S. at
the pleadings filed by S.H. (in which she
656.
referred to D.H. as the "father" of her children at
Thus, even though K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) may provide least 56 times) as the "writing" contemplated by
a quick and clear method to dismiss paternity K.S.A. 38-1114(f ), I would find that S.H.'s
actions, it must comport with the values inconsistent pleadings and actions are evidence
inherent in the Constitution, namely due to be considered by the district court in
process of law. 95 determining *95 whether the parties agreed that
D.H. would play an active role in the twins'
The Court in Stanley pointed out that prompt
lives.
procedures are not the only consideration
important to citizens: S.H. filed a child in need of care (CINC) petition
the day following the twins' birth seeking to
"Procedure by presumption is always
terminate D.H.'s parental rights. In the petition,
cheaper and easier than individualized
she alleged several reasons for terminating
determination. But when, as here, the
D.H.'s parental rights, including D.H.'s failure to
procedure forecloses the determinative
provide prenatal emotional and financial
issues of competence and care, when it
support, which implied she intended D.H. to
explicitly disdains present realities in
play a role in the parenting process.
deference to past formalities, it
Significantly, no mention was made in the CINC
needlessly risks running roughshod over
petition of K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) or its potential
the important interests of both parent
application here. In fact, it was not until
and child. It therefore cannot stand." 405
petitioner filed an amended petition more than
U.S. at 656-57.
 2 weeks after the initial petition that mention HILL, J., dissenting:
was made of K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) and its
I must respectfully join with Judge Caplinger in
presumption of nonpaternity.
her dissent. I too agree that as applied in this
Thus, I would remand for the district court to case, K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) is unconstitutional when
consider all evidence relevant to the existence applied to a known donor.
of an agreement between the parties, including
But I raise my hand and ask a different question.
S.H.'s inconsistent allegations regarding D.H.'s
Who speaks for the children in these
responsibilities, her consistent reference to
proceedings? As applied by the majority in this
D.H. as the "father" of her children, and her
case, this generative statute of frauds slices
failure to rely upon the statutory presumption
away half of their heritage. A man who was once
in her initial petition.
considered a "putative father" in the initial child
As a final note, I agree that this court should not in need of care proceeding is now branded a
place fathers in an "Alice and Wonderland" mere "semen donor." The majority offers the
scenario where the rules of the "chess game" are children sympathy. But is this in their best
constantly changing and Kansas children are interests? The trial court never got to the point
sometimes left without two supportive parents. of deciding the best interests of the children
And yet, it seems to me that rather than Lewis because it was convinced that such a
Carroll's looking glass, we are looking at this consideration was barred by the operation of
case through a "funny mirror" at the local K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) to a known donor.
carnival. It is apparent that D.H. seeks to be a
None of the elaborate and meticulous
loving and supportive parent to the two children
safeguards our Kansas laws afford parents and
he has biologically fathered — two children who
children in proceedings before our courts when
have no other putative father. And yet, by
confronted with questions of parentage have
operation of a statute of which D.H. was
been extended to these children. A quick glance
unaware, his rights to parent these children
over our procedures dealing with the Kansas
were cut off before the children were conceived
Parentage Act (K.S.A. 38-1110 et seq.) or our Code
with the use of his sperm. This is a result we
for Care of Children (K.S.A. 38-1501 et seq.)
should not abide for D.H. or for his children
reveals the great caution we take in this state
absent the protections of due process.
when courts must consider such relationships.
Conclusion While it is true that an attorney was appointed
to represent the children in the original child in
I would hold K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) unconstitutional
need of care case, the record from their point of
as applied to D.H. as it takes away his
view remains silent. Instead only the voices of
fundamental rights to parent his children
mother and "semen donor" are heard in district
without due process of law. Further, I would
court and this court as well.
96 remand this case with *96 directions to the
district court to resolve the factual dispute I agree with the Ohio Court of Common Pleas
recognized by the majority here — i.e., whether when it said:
D.H. and S.H. agreed that D.H. would be the
natural father of K.C.H. and K.M.H. If the court
concludes that such an agreement existed, then
it must hold that K.S.A. 38-1114(f ) did not apply
to extinguish D.H.'s rights and must proceed to
determine paternity and the extent to which
D.H. will be permitted to share the rights and
responsibilities of parenting his two children.
 "A father's voluntary assumption of fiscal (citing Lehr v. Robertson, 463 U.S. 248, 77
responsibility for his child should be L.Ed. 2d 614, 103 S.Ct. 2985 [1983]).
endorsed as a socially responsible action.
I think the same can be said about our statute.
A statute which absolutely extinguishes
97 *97 a father's efforts to assert the rights
98 *98
and responsibility of being a father, in a
case with such facts as those subjudice,
runs contrary to due process safeguards.
[Citation omitted.]" C.O. v. W.S., 64 Ohio
Misc. 2d 9, 12, 639 N.E.2d 523 (1994)