A Florida appeals court has upheld a lower court ruling sealing a lawsuit filed by Allison Quets, who is in jail facing federal charges of international parental kidnapping.

Quets is accused of kidnapping the twins she gave birth to in 2005 but whom she gave up for adoption to an Apex couple. She was arrested in December in Canada for taking the two children out of the country. She remains in custody at the Franklin County jail.

The News & Observer sought to keep open to the public a lawsuit that Quets filed in 2005 against the adoptive parents, Denise and Kevin Needham, their attorney, Michael Shorstein of Jacksonville, and others.

The Needhams sought to have the case sealed shortly after Quets was arrested. They argued that because the lawsuit was related to an adoption case, which is confidential, the lawsuit also should be confidential.

In a January ruling, a Duval County, Fla., circuit judge sided with the Needhams, saying that Florida law protects the identities of children, adoptive parents and birth parents.

The News & Observer argued that much of the information about the adoption had already been made public in the media, including the names of the adults and children in the case, according to the ruling last week by the Court of Appeal, First District. The paper said that nothing would be accomplished by sealing the file, the ruling said.

But the appeals court said that a substantial amount of information has not been made public and that the lower court judge did not exceed his authority.

John Drescher, managing editor of The News & Observer, said the paper is considering whether to appeal the decision to the Florida Supreme Court.