Seven-year custody battle coming to close

NASHVILLE, May 25 (UPI) -- A U.S. Supreme Court justice has made a final ruling that an 8-year-old girl raised by a Tennessee couple must be reunited with her birth parents.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has turned down Jerry and Louise Baker's plea for a stay of the ruling that Anna Mae He be reunited with her biological parents, ABC reported Friday.

The Bakers are reportedly desperately trying to hold onto the little girl they raised since she was 3 weeks old -- but He's birth parents, Jack and Casey He, have been part of a seven-year custody battle over the girl.

They said they only gave up Anna Mae temporarily when they were having financial difficulties during their marriage, and were then tricked into signing away permanent custody.

The Bakers claim the ruling to return the girl to her birth parents is cruel and inhumane. They said court-ordered visits with her biological parents have traumatized Anna Mae and may cause her to have a nervous breakdown.

"We will proceed to the next step," said Jerry Baker. "We expect to resubmit the application (for a stay) to another justice."