The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has declined to intervene in a case where a divorcing father argued it was unconstitutional for a state judge to require him to pay half the cost of a court-appointed attorney for his two children.

Using Sprint Communications v. Jacobs, 134 U.S. 548 (2013) as guidance, a unanimous circuit said its exercise of jurisdiction would interfere with a state court’s ability to appoint attorneys for the child in ongoing divorce and custody proceedings.