North Carolina’s Supreme Court voided a state senator’s adoption of her partner’s biological child last week. State Sen. Julia Boseman and Melissa Jarrell, the biological mother, lived together at the time of the child’s birth and parented together. Boseman went on to adopt Jarell’s biological son. The couple has since split.

The state’s high court ruled that because Jarrell did not relinquish parental rights during adoption proceedings, Boseman’s custody claim was invalid. According to the Charlotte Observer, a Durham County District Court waived a requirement that Jarrell surrender parental rights five years ago, paving the way for Boseman to become the child’s “second parent.”

The high ruled 5-2 against Boseman.

According to the Charlotte Observer, the case will affect future adoptions by same-sex couples.

The article states:

For such second-parent adoptions to occur by parents of the same gender — granting inheritance and other rights to the child - same-sex marriage would have to be created in North Carolina or the adoption law would have to be changed, said Michelle Connell, a Winston-Salem lawyer and chairwoman of the family law section of the North Carolina Bar Association.

Boseman was the state’s first openly lesbian senator. She did not seek re-election in 2010.

Despite the ruling removing Boseman’s adoptive status, she will still be allowed visitation, per a ruling from a lower court. She was represented by the American Civil Liberties Union.