Court Overturns Marine's Adoption of Afghan War Orphan

A Virginia appellate court has voided the adoption of an Afghan war orphan by U.S. Marine Maj. Joshua Mast, ruling that the adoption was improperly authorized and that Mast should never have been granted custody of the child. The decision, marking a significant turn in a bitter custody battle, leaves the fate of the girl, who is turning five this month, uncertain. Despite Mast's efforts to adopt the child following a U.S. night raid that orphaned her, the court found that the adoption did not meet state law criteria. The Afghan child, known as 'Baby Doe,' had been placed with her living relatives as required by international law, but Mast convinced a Virginia court to grant him adoption rights from afar, leading to a complex legal and ethical dilemma. The court's ruling does not immediately determine who will have custody of the girl, emphasizing the ongoing legal complexity and emotional turmoil surrounding the case.