An Arizona court ruling says grandparents who could provide foster or adoptive homes for children in state custody don't have a right to sue over placement decisions.
The Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a juvenile court judge's ruling in favor of the state and adoptive parents for a child whose parents agreed to have their parental rights terminated.
That led to the child being adopted over the grandparents' objections.
The grandparents sued, accusing the state of negligence and contending violation of their rights as grandparents who wished to adopt the child if adoption was under consideration.
However, the Court of Appeals ruled that all the relevant Arizona laws are intended to protect and benefit the children involved, not to serve interests of potential foster or adoptive placements.