The Baby Richard case, which captured the attention of the nation, will be the focus of a Women’s Law Forum symposium Saturday, which Forum members say they hope will explain the legalities of the case.

The symposium will feature the two attorneys who debated the Baby Richard case in Illinois, which focused on whether the best interest of a child is more important than a biological parents’ rights.

The two lawyers are Richard Lifshitz, for the adoptive parents of Baby Richard and Loren Heineman, for the biological father, Otakar Kirchner.

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Members of the Women’s Law Forum said theyhope the symposium will explain the laws involved in the case, the psychological implications and other aspects.

We’re trying to make it well rounded so it will appeal not only to law students but students in social work, child development and political science, Rhonda Jenkins, secretary for the Women’s Law Forum, said. It should appeal to a wide range of people.

A panel of local professionals will also give their views on the Baby Richard case. The moderator of the event will be Wenona Whitfield, professor at the SIU School of Law. The panel includes, William G. Schwartz, Jackson County circuit judge; Rebecca O’Neill, family law professor at the SIU School of Law; Carolyn Smoot, local attorney; Dr. Jeffrey Kellogg, clinical child psychologist and Connie Baker, SIU School of Social Work.

Baby Richard was born March 16, 1991. He was placed with his adoptive parents March 20, 1991, Jenkins said.

Kirchner was told by his girlfriend now his wife that the baby had died. Upon investigation, Kirchner found this was not true and began legal action in 1991 to assert his parental right and obtain custody of his child. The case made it to a trial court in May 1992. The trial court ruled that Baby Richard should remain with his adoptive parents.

After the trial court, Kirchner took his case to Illinois Apellate Court in August 1993. The Apellate Court upheld the trial court’s decision that Baby Richard remain with the adoptive parents.

After a 1994 Supreme Court decision, Kirchner gained custody of Baby Richard.

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Baby Richard, who is now named Danny, is four years old and lives with his biological parents. His adoptive parents continue their attempt to reverse the decision.

The symposium will be held at the auditorium in the Lesar Law Building Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. The presentation is free and open to the public.

The symposium is being sponsored by the Women’s Law Forum and co-sponsored by the Jackson County Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the SIU School of Law.