Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan issued an order on Tuesday declining to intervene in a contentious custody battle between McKenna West, an Alaska-based surrogate, and a California couple, Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar. West had filed an emergency petition asking the Supreme Court to halt a California court judgment that recognized the couple as the legal parents of the child she carried.

The case has gained significant public attention due to the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy. According to reports, the dispute intensified after the intended parents allegedly requested that West terminate the pregnancy due to a serious heart defect diagnosed in the fetus. West reportedly refused the request and traveled to Texas, leading to a complex legal battle over parentage and custody rights.

While The Hill frames the decision as Kagan steering the court away from a high-profile fight, The Guardian focuses on the broader context of the dispute, noting the child's medical condition and the national debate surrounding surrogacy. Both outlets confirm that the Supreme Court will not be taking up the emergency request at this time, effectively leaving the lower court's parentage ruling in place. The legal conflict highlights the ongoing challenges in surrogacy law, particularly when disagreements arise between surrogates and intended parents regarding medical decisions and parental rights.