Has AAI ever lost an appeal when a birth mother asks for her rights to be reinstated?
No. All the courts are very diligent in asking every birth mother many questions to ensure that she comprehends the legal purpose of the hearing. The courts make sure that she understands that signing the release is voluntary and that no one can force her to do so. They ask her if she has had enough time to make the decision, if she needs more counseling, and remind her that the 21 day appeal period is NOT simply a time period for her to change her mind. It is, instead, a time to correct flaws in the legal system if any occur.
