People v. Stanley

Upon a finding that their natural mother was deceased, two illegitimate children were adjudged by the circuit court of Cook County to be dependent, and were placed in the custody of a married couple appointed as guardians by the court. The children’s natural father, Peter Stanley, Sr., has appealed the judgment directly to this court, arguing that the statutory provisions (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1967, ch. 37, pars. 702 — 5 and 701 — 14; ch. io6)4, par. 62) deny to an “unwed father” all rights to control and custody of his illegitimate children and as such constitute a denial of equal protection of…