Case Summary

Grace LaVonne petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus to retrieve her daughter, Virginia LaVonne, from the custody of chief probation officer Sarah Gregory, which was granted. Sarah Gregory wanted a birth certificate before the child was released, which Grace couldn't produce. In their response to the writ, Sarah's counsel requested further time to prepare their defense, which was allowed, during which time the judge determined that Grace should have temporary custody of Virginia. At the hearing, Sarah's counsel mounted no defense, and Virginia was remanded to the custody of her mother.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Interpersonal

Petition subtype(s)

• Child custody

Outcome

Writ allowed

Fate of bound party

Released from custody

Case Citation

RG207 Lancaster County Subgroup 9: Series 3 Appearance Docket L, p. 295; RG207 Lancaster County Subgroup 9: Series 4 Daily Journal #74: Feb. 1918-Jan 1919, pp. 653, 658

Source material(s)

Docket | Journal

Repository(s)

• History Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska)

State

• Nebraska

Tag(s)

• Children

People

• LaVonne, Virginia May (bound party)
• LaVonne, Virginia May (petitioner)
• LaVonne, Grace (petitioner)
• Gregory, Sarah B. (respondent)
• Gregory, Sarah B. (responding party)
• Gregory, Sarah B. (holding party)
• Shepherd, Frederick (judge)
• Greene, Robert J. (petitioner attorney)

• Additional parties

  LaVonne, John E. [Grace's ex-husband and Virginia's father]

  Simmons, Lorenzo A. (sheriff)

  Simmons, G. A. (deputy sheriff)