The Robby DeBoer papers document the legal battle and media coverage surrounding the adoption of "Baby Girl Clausen," and also the organizational records of the national child advocacy group Hear My Voice. The collection consists of correspondence, news clippings, press releases, photographs, audio cassette tapes, digital materials, video tapes, and legal papers such as petitions, briefs, judicial orders, and amicus briefs. The collection has the following series: Biographical, Litigation, Hear My Voice, Publicity, Audio/Visual Materials, and General Correspondence.
The custody battle over "Baby Girl Clausen" began shortly after Cara Clausen gave birth to the baby girl on February 8, 1991 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Two days after giving birth, Cara Clausen signed a "Release of Custody," releasing her parental rights to "Baby Girl Clausen." At the same time, she named Scott Seefeldt, her current boyfriend, as the father of the baby. Like Clausen, Seefeldt also signed a "Release of Custody" of the child. On February 25, 1991, The Juvenile Court of Linn County, Iowa terminated the parental rights of Cara Clausen and Scott Seefeldt and named Jan and Roberta "Robby" DeBoer of Ann Arbor, Michigan as the legal custodians of "Baby Girl Clausen." On the same day, Jan and Robby DeBoer filed a petition in the District Court of Linn County, Iowa to adopt the baby. By March 1, 1991, "Baby Girl Clausen," had moved into her Ann Arbor, Michigan home with Jan and Robby DeBoer. The couple named the baby Jessica.
On February 28th, Clausen changed her mind about the adoption and informed the real father of the baby, Dan Schmidt, of the child. By March 6, 1991, Clausen had filed a "Request to Revoke and Vacate Orders" with the Juvenile Court of Linn County, Iowa and an Affidavit stating that she did not identify the real father, claiming now that Daniel Schmidt was the actual biological father to "Baby Girl Clausen."
On March 21, 1991, the Juvenile Court of Linn County, Iowa held a hearing to consider Cara Clausen's request that the court should reinstate her parental rights. The Court rejected the claims of Cara Clausen and Daniel Schmidt, holding that it no longer had jurisdiction because the DeBoers had already filed an adoption petition in District Court.
On March 27th, 1991, Daniel petitioned for custody of the baby on the grounds that he had not signed a release for the adoption as the father of the infant. The DeBoers challenged the petition in court for two years in both Iowa and Michigan. Finally, the United States Supreme Court refused to hear the case, upholding a lower-court decision giving custody of Jessica to the birth parents, who had in the meantime married and given birth to another child.
On August 2, 1993, in front of the news media, Jessica was transferred from her home with the DeBoers to her birth parents in Iowa. Jessica DeBoer is now known as Anna Schmidt.
Robby DeBoer's experience with the "Baby Jessica Case," as it was commonly known in the media, led her to establish the child advocacy group Hear My Voice. The organization, formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, offers pro bono help for adoptive/custodial parents and guardians involved in difficult custody cases.
