In Re the Adoption of A.A.T.

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Luckert, J.:

In this appeal, a natural father seeks to set aside the adoption of his newborn child. Although he did nothing during the pregnancy to assume parenting responsibilities and preserve his liberty interest in fatherhood, he asserts this should be excused and a liberty interest should be recognized because the natural mother induced his inaction by lying to him about the pregnancy and the birth. Then, she lied to the district court regarding the father’s identity, preventing him from receiving notice and an opportunity to be heard in the…