Nineteen-year-old (or perhaps he’s 20) impregnates 14-year-old in 2009, is sentenced to 16 years of probation. He seeks parental visitation rights; she tries to stop that from happening. Suit 1: State court won’t stop it. Suit 2: Federal court won’t stop it. Suit 3: State court won’t stop it; he’s been ordered to pay child support, and Massachusetts family courts were (at that time, anyway) authorized to adjudicate the parental rights of a parent convicted of statutory rape. Plus, the kid should be getting financial support from both parents. Suit 4: Federal district court won’t stop it. First Circuit: Subject to exceptions that don’t apply here, losing parties in state court don’t get to re-litigate in federal trial courts.
