THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

October 22, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 06 3 . BRAW

NER v . M ILLER.

D I LLA R D , J u dg e.

In t h i s cu s t o d y d i s pu t e, Ak i n t u n d e Brawn er, t h e b io l og i cal fat h er o f t wo m i n o r

ch i l d ren , ch al l en g es th e t ri al co u rt ’ s award of cu s to d y o f t h e ch i l d ren t o Os car M i l l er,

t h e m at ern al g ran d fat h er. Sp eci fi cal l y , Brawn er co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

ap p ly i n g an in co rrect l eg al s tan d ard i n ren d eri n g i t s d eci s i o n an d i n fi n d i n g t h at t h e

ch i l d ren wo u l d s u f

fer em ot io n al h arm i f cu s to d y were award ed t o h i m

. Fo r t h e

reas on s s et fo rt h i nf

r a , we affi rm

.

Vi ewi n g t he ev i den ce i n t h e l i g h t m o st fav o rab l e t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t

, 1

t h e reco rd sh o ws th at Brawn er an d Cam eas e M i l l er were h i gh s ch o o l s weet h eart s

. In

1 S ee, e.g

. , Mi tch a m v. S

p r y , 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 86

, 3 8 6 (6 8 5 SE2 d 3 7 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (n o t i ng t h at wh en rev i ewi ng a ch i l d -cu s t o dy deci s i o n , t h is Co u rt v i ews t h e ev i d en ce

p res en t ed i n t h e l ig h t m os t fav orab l e t o u p h o ld i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er).2 0 0 1

, Cam eas e becam e p reg n an t

, an d al t h ou g h s h e an d Brawn er were n o t m a r r i ed

,

t h e co u p l e m o ved i n t o an ap art m en t t o g et h er b efo re t h e Ap ri l 2 0 0 2 bi rt h o f t h ei r fi rs t

s o n , S. B. In 2 0 0 4, Cam eas e g av e bi rt h t o t h e co u p l e’ s s eco n d s o n , M

. B. Bu t s h o rt l y

t h ereaft er, Cam eas e an d Brawn er’ s rel at i o n s h i p b eg an to s o ur, a n d i n 2 00 6

, t h ey

s ep arat ed an d Brawn er m ov ed o u t o f t h e ap art m en t

. Un ab l e t o fi n an c i al l y m ai n t ai n

t h e ap art m en t o n h er o wn , Cam eas e an d t h e ch i l d ren m o v ed i n t o h er fat h er’ s (Os car

M i l ler’ s) h o m e, i n wh ich Cam eas e’ s t wo y o un g er s i b l i ng s al s o res id ed

.

Ov er t h e co u rs e o f t h e n ex t s ev eral y ears , Cam eas e occas i o n al l y at tem p t ed to

l i ve o n her o wn , b u t fo r t he v as t m ajo ri t y o f t h i s t i m e, s h e an d t h e two b o y s l iv ed wi th

h er fat h er an d si b l in g s

. An d d u ri n g t h i s s am e t i m e p eri o d

, Brawn er’ s in t eract i o n wi th

t h e ch i l dren w as s p orad i c at b es t

, d es p i t e t h e fact t h at h e l iv ed o nl y fi v e b l o ck s away

fro m M i l ler’ s ho m e. In fact

, Cam eas e recei ved t h e v as t m ajo ri t y o f as si st an ce wi t h t h e

b o y s fro m h er fat h er an d h er y o u n g er s i b l i ng s , rat h er t han Brawn er. Ad d it i o n al l y ,

Brawn er on l y o ccas i o n al l y p ai d ch il d s up p o rt afte r he a nd C a m e a se s e p arat ed

. In d eed

,

i n 2 0 1 1, t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f Fu l t o n Co u n t y hel d h im i n co n t em p t fo r fai l ure t o p ay

ap p ro x i m at el y $ 2 ,8 0 0 .0 0 i n ch i l d s u p p o rt

.

On J u l y 3

, 20 1 3

, Cam eas e was t h e v i c t i m o f a h o m i ci d e. Two week s l at er,

Brawn er fi l ed a pet i t i o n s e e k i n g t o l eg i t i m at e t h e ch i l d ren an d o b t ai n cu s t o d y

.

2Su b s eq u en t l y , M i l l e r f i l ed a m o t i on t o i n t erv en e, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed

, an d

t h en fi l ed an an s wer an d co u n tercl ai m , i n wh i ch h e t o o s ou g h t cu s t o d y o f t h e b oy s

.

Aft er a b ri ef d i s co v ery p e ri o d

, t h e t ri al co urt hel d an ev id en t i ary h eari n g o n t h e

m at t er, in wh i ch Brawn er, h is p aren t s , M i l l er, an d Cam eas e’ s s i b l i n g s t es t i fi ed

. At t h e

co n cl u s i o n o f th e h eari ng , t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Brawn er’ s l eg i t i m at i o n p et i t i o n , b ut

award ed cu s t o d y of t h e ch il d ren t o M i l l er wi t h p erm i s s i v e v i s i t at i o n t o Brawn er. An d

s h o rt l y t h ereaft er, t h e co u rt i ss ued i t s fi n al o rd er, co nfi rm in g t h e ru l i n g i t h ad i s s u ed

fro m t h e b en ch

. Brawn er t hen m o v ed fo r reconside rat io n , wh i ch th e tri al co u rt d en i ed

.

Th i s ap p eal fo l l o ws

.

1

. Brawn er fi rs t co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt award ed cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i l d ren

t o M i l l er wi t h ou t fi n d in g th at h e was u n fi t as a p aren t an d

, i n do i n g s o , a p p l i ed an

i n co rrect l eg al s tan d ard . W e d i s ag ree.

At t h e ou t s et

, we n o t e t h at ch i l d-cu s t o d y di sp u t es i n v o l v i n g a bi o l o g i cal p aren t

an d a l i m i t ed n u m

b er of t h i rd p art i es wh o are rel at ed t o th e ch i l d

, i n cl u d i n g

g ran d p aren t s , are g o v ern ed b y OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 ( b

. 1 ) ( i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h e

fu n d am en t al co n s t i t u t i o nal ri g h t o f fam i l i al rel at i o n s ), 2 wh i ch p ro v i d es t hat

2 S ee S t r i ckl a n d v

. S t r i ckl a n d

, 33 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 7 9

, 8 8 2 (1 ) (7 69 SE2 d 6 0 7 ) (2 0 1 5) (“ Paren t s h av e a co n st i t u t i o n al r i g h t u n d er t he U n i t ed St at es an d Geo rg i a Co n s t i t u t i o n s t o t he care an d c u s t o d y of t hei r ch il d ren .”); Lo p ez v. Ol s o n , 3 1 4 Ga.

3i n an y act i o n i n v o l vi n g t h e c u s t o dy of a ch i l d b et ween t h e p aren t s o r

ei t h er p aren t an d a t h ird part y l i m it ed to g ran d p aren t, g reat -g ran d p aren t

,

au n t

, u ncl e, g reat au n t

, g reat u n cl e, s ib l i n g , o r ad op t iv e p aren t

, p aren t al

p o wer m ay be l o s t b y t he p aren t

, p aren t s , o r an y o t h er p ers o n i f th e co u rt

h eari n g t h e i ss ue o f cu s t o d y , i n t h e ex erci s e o f i t s s o u n d d i scret i o n an d

t ak i n g i n t o co n s i d erat i o n al l t h e ci rcu m st an ces o f t h e cas e, d et erm i n es

t h at an award o f cu s t o d y t o s u ch t h ird p art y i s fo r t he b es t in t eres t o f th e

ch i l d or ch i l d ren an d wi l l b e s t p ro m o t e t hei r wel fare an d h ap p i n es s

. Th ere sh al l b e a reb u t t ab l e pres u m p t i o n t h at i t i s i n t h e b es t i n teres t o f

t h e ch il d o r ch i l d ren fo r cu s t o d y t o be award ed t o t h e p aren t o r p aren t s

o f s u ch ch i l d o r c h i l d r en , b u t t h i s p res u m p t i o n m ay b e o v erco m e b y a

s h o wi n g th at an award o f cu s t o d y t o su ch t h i rd p a r t y i s i n t he b es t

i n t eres t o f t h e ch i ld o r ch i l d ren

. Th e s o l e i s s u e fo r d et erm i n at i o n i n an y

s u ch cas e s h al l b e wh at i s i n t h e b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i ld o r ch i l d ren

. 3

As t h i s Co u rt has p rev i o u s ly reco g n i zed , t h e fo l l o w i n g t h ree co n st it u t i o n al l y b as ed

p res u m p t i o n s 4 are t o b e u sed i n co n s t ru i ng t h e t ex t of th e fo reg o i n g s t at u t e: “ (1 ) t h e

Ap p

. 5 3 3, 5 4 0 (3 ) (7 2 4 SE2 d 8 3 7 ) (2 0 1 2) (n o t i n g t h at t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as “ n arro wl y c o n st ru ed ” OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ) t o “ reco g ni ze p aren t s ’

c o n s ti t u t i o n al l y p ro t ect ed i n t eres t i n t h e care, cu st o d y , an d m an ag em en t o f t h e i r ch i l d ren .”).

3 OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b

. 1 ).

4 See Tr oxel v

. G r a n v i l l e , 5 3 0 U .S. 57

, 6 5 (II) (1 2 0 SCt 2 0 5 4

, 1 4 7 L E2 d 4 9 ) (2 0 0 0) (p l u ral i t y op i n i o n) (“ Th e l i b ert y i n t eres t at i s s ue i n th i s cas e— t h e i n t eres t o f

p aren t s i n t he care, cu s t o d y , an d co n t ro l o f t h ei r ch i l d ren

— is p erh ap s t h e o l d es t o f t h e fu n d am en t al l i b ert y i n t eres ts reco gn i zed b y th i s Co u rt

. ”); i d

. at 68 (II) (n o t i n g t h e

co n st i t u t io n al p r es u m

p ti o n t h at “ fi t p aren t s act i n t h e bes t i n t eres t s o f t h ei r

4p aren t i s a fi t p ers o n en t i t l ed t o cu s t o d y , (2 ) a fi t p aren t act s i n t h e b es t i nt eres t o f h i s

o r h er ch i l d

, an d (3 ) t he ch i ld ’ s b es t i n t eres t is t o b e i n t h e cu s t o d y o f a p aren t .” 5 Bu t

t h es e p res u m

p ti o n s can n o n et h el es s b e o v erco m e b y a t hi rd -p art y rel at iv e “ s h o wi n g,

b y cl ear an d co nv i n ci ng ev i d en ce, t h at paren t al cu s t o d y wo u l d h a rm t h e ch i l d

. ” 6

ch i l d ren .”); Pa r h am v. J. R.

, 4 4 2 U.S. 5 8 4, 60 2 ( I I I ) ( 9 9 S C t 2 4 9 3

, 6 1 LE2 d 1 0 1 ) (1 9 7 9) (n o t i n g t h at t he f e d e r a l c o n s t i tu t i o n ’ s “ co n cep t o f t h e fam il y res t s o n a

p r e s u m p t i o n t h at p aren t s p o s s es s wh at a ch i l d l ack s i n m at u ri t y , ex p eri en ce, an d capaci t y fo r ju d g m en t req u i red fo r m ak i n g l i fe’ s d i ffi cu l t d eci s i on s ,” an d th at “ n at u ral

b o n d s o f affect i o n l ead p aren t s t o act i n t h e b es t i nt eres t o f t h ei r ch il d ren .”); s ee a l s o 2 St

. G eo rg e Tu ck er, Bl ack s to n e’ s Co m m en tari es wi t h No t es of Referen c e t o t h e Co n s t i t u t i o n an d Laws o f t he Fed eral Go v ern m en t o f t h e Un i t ed St at es an d t h e Co m m o n weal t h o f Vi rg i ni a 4 4 6 (Bi rch & Sm al l 1 8 0 3 ) (“ Th e d u t y o f p aren t s to

p ro v id e fo r t he ma i n t en a n ce o f t h ei r ch i l d ren , i s a p ri n ci p l e of n at u ral l aw.”); 2 J am es
Ken t, Co m

m en t ari es o n Am eri can Law 1 6 9 (O. Hal s t ed 1 8 2 7 ) ( n o t i n g th at “ [t ] h e ri gh t s o f p aren t s res u l t fo r th ei r d u t i es [t o th ei r ch i l d ren ]

, ” an d “ th e l aw h as g i v en

t h em s u ch au th ori t y ”); J o h n Lo ck e, Seco n d T r e a t i s e o f Go vern m en t

, Ch

. 6

, § 7 1 (Hack et t Pu b l i sh i ng Co

., In c. 1 9 8 0, o ri gi n al l y p u bl i s h ed i n 1 69 0 ) ( “ T h i s s h ews t h e

reas on ho w i t co m es t o p as s , t h at p a r en t s i n s o ci et i es

, wh ere t hey t hem s el v es are

s u b ject s , ret ai n a p o wer o ver t h ei r ch i l d r en

, an d h av e as m

u ch ri g h t t o t h ei r

s u b ject i on , as th o s e wh o are i n t h e s t at e o f n at u re.”).

5 Tr o t t er v. A

yr es , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7, 8 -9 (2 ) (7 2 6 SE2 d 42 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Cl a r

k v. W a d e , 2 7 3 G a. 5 87

, 5 9 3 (II) (5 4 4 SE2 d 99 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (p l u ral i t y o p i n i o n ); Ga l t i er i v. O’Del l

, 2 95 G a. Ap p

. 7 9 7

, 7 9 8 (6 7 3 SE2 d 3 0 0 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

6 Tr o t ter

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 (2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Cl a r k v. W a de

, 2 7 3 Ga. at 5 9 8 -9 9 (IV) (p l u ral i ty o pi n i o n ); i d

. at 6 0 0 (Sears

, J

., co n cu rri n g s p eci al l y ) (n o t i ng t hat t h e p l u ral i t y “ ul t i m at el y reaffi rm s th e p ri n ci pl es o f Br o o ks [ v. P a t t er s o n ]

b y ho l di n g t hat di sp u tes b et ween p aren t s an d t h i rd p art i es co n cern i n g t h e cu s t o d y o f

t h e p aren t s ’ ch i l d ren m

u s t b e res o lv ed u s i n g t he ri g o ro u s h arm s t an dard ad o p t ed in

Br o oks .”); Ga l t i er i , 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p . at 7 9 8

.

5Sp eci fi cal l y , h a r m i n t h i s p art i cu l ar co nt ex t h as b een ri g o ro u sl y defi n ed as “ ei t h er

p h y s i cal h arm o r si g ni fi can t

, l o n g -t erm em o t i o n al h arm , n o t m erel y s o ci al o r

eco n om i c d i s ad v an t ag es .” 7 An d o n ce t h es e pres u m p ti o n s h av e b e e n o v erco m e by

s u ch a s h o wi n g , th e t h i rd -p art y rel at i v e m u s t t h en “ pro v e t h at an award o f cu s t o d y to

h i m o r her wi ll b es t p ro m o te t h e ch i l d ’ s h eal th

, wel fare, an d h ap p i n e s s .” 8 Th u s ,

co n trary t o Brawn er’ s co n t en t i o n , i n ap pl y i n g t he l eg al s t an d ard s et fo rt h i n OCGA

§ 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ), a t ri al co urt n eed no t exp l i ci t l y d et erm i n e t h a t “ t h e p aren t s eek i n g

cu s t o d y i s u n fi t [.] ” 9 Rat h er, t h e co u rt i s i n s t ead req u i red t o d et erm i n e t h at “ t h e t h i rd

7 Tr o t t er , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 (2 ) (p un ct u at io n o m i tt ed ); a cco r d G a l t i er i

, 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 9 8

. Cf

. Fl o yd v. Gi b s on , 3 31 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 1

, 3 0 3

- 0 4 ( 7 7 1 SE2 d 1 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (p h y s i c a l p r eced en t o n ly ) (v acat i n g t ri al co u rt ’ s ju dg m en t g ran t i n g cu s t o d y to

m at ern al g ran d m o t h er fo r fai l u re t o m ak e t h e req u i s i t e d et erm i n at i o n t h at th e ch i l d ren

wo u l d s u ffer ei t h er p hy s ical h arm o r s i gn i fi can t

, l o n g -t erm em o t i o n al h arm i f cu s t o dy

was award ed t o t h e fat h er).

8 Tr o t t er , 3 1 5 Ga. A pp

. at 9 (2 ) (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Ga l t i er i

, 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p . at 7 9 8

.

9 Tr o t ter

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 (2 ); s ee al s o B o d d i e v. Da n i el

s , 2 8 8 Ga. 1 4 3

, 1 4 5 (7 0 2 SE2 d 1 7 2 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (h o l d i ng t h at wh en “ a t hi rd p art y s eek s n ei t her t o t erm i n at e

p aren t al ri g h t s n o r b reak u p a n at u ral fam i l y b y r e m o v in g t h e ch i l d fro m h er b i o l o g i c a l p a r e nt ’ s cu st o d y , ‘ fed eral co n s t i tu t i o n al l aw d o es n o t req u i re a s h o wi n g

t h at th e p aren t i s u n f

i t b efo re cu s t o d y m ay b e award ed t o [t h e] th i rd p art y .’ ”) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Co mp a r e Qu i ll o in v. W a l co t t

, 4 3 4 U.S. 2 4 6

, 2 5 5 (II) (A) (9 8

SCt 5 49

, 5 4 LE2 d 5 1 1 ) (1 9 7 8 ) (ex p res s i n g “ l i tt l e d ou b t ” t hat t h e fu n d am en t al ri g ht

o f fam i li al rel at i on s wo u ld b e v i o l at ed i f “ a St at e were t o at t em p t t o fo rce t h e b reak u p

o f a nat ural fam i l y , o v er t h e ob ject i o ns o f t he p aren t s an d t h ei r ch i l d ren , wi t h o u t s o m e

6p art y rel at i v e h as es t ab li s h ed b y cl ear an d co n v in ci n g ev i d en ce t h at award i n g cu s t o dy

t o t h e p aren t wo u l d cau s e ei t h er p h y s i cal h arm o r s i g ni fi can t

, l on g -t erm em o t i o n a l

h arm t o th e ch i ld

. ” 1 0 A cco rd i n g l y , Brawn er’ s arg u m en t th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

award i n g cu s t od y t o M il l er wi t h o ut an exp l i ci t fi n d i n g o f p aren t al u nfi t nes s l ack s

m eri t

. 1 1

2

. Brawn er al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at t h e b o y s wi l l

s u ffer s i g n i fi can t

, l on g -t erm em o t i o n al h arm i f cu s to d y i s award ed to h i m

. Ag ai n , we

d i s ag ree.

s h o wi n g o f u n f

i t n e s s a n d fo r t h e s o l e reas o n t h at t o d o s o was t ho u g ht t o be i n t h e ch i l d ren ’ s b es t i nt eres t.”).

1 0 Tr o t ter

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 ( 2 ) ; a c c o r d Cl a r k

, 2 7 3 Ga. at 5 9 3 (II) (p l u ral i t y

o p i n i o n ).

1 1 It i s i m p o rt an t t o em

p h as i ze t h at t h e p res en t cu st o d y d i s p u t e i s b et ween a

p aren t wh o h as no t cared fo r h i s ch i ld ren i n q ui t e s o m e t i m e an d a g ran d p aren t wh o h as co m m en d ab ly d o n e s o

. In su ch cas es , “ t h e d ay -t o-d ay b o n d o f t h e p a r e n t -ch i ld

rel at i o n s h i p al read y h as been i n t erru p t ed

, an d t he ch i l d m ay h av e fo rm ed s tro n g an d

l as t i n g rel at i o n s hi p s w i t h t h e p ers o n wh o h as b e e n c a ri ng fo r h i m .” Cl a r k v. W a de

, 2 7 3 Ga. at 6 0 0 (Sears

, J

., co n cu rri n g s p eci al l y ). In co n t ras t

, a cu s t o d y d i s p u t e i n v o l v i n g a t h i rd p art y s e e k i n g t o “ b reak ap art an in t act paren t -ch i l d rel at i o n s h i p ”

i m p l i cat es ev en g reat er co n st i tu t i o n al co n cern s

. . . .” Id

. Cf

. S t o n e v. S t o n e ,

_

_ _ Ga.

_ _ _ ,

_ _ _ (7 7 4 SE2 d 6 8 1 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (h o l d i n g th at “ co n s t ru i n g [OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 )] as

au t h o ri zi n g t h e St at e t o req u i re a fi t an d cap ab l e p aren t t o s hare cu s t o dy o f h i s ch i ld

wi t h an y o n e ex cep t t h e ch i l d’ s o t h er p aren t wo u l d r a i s e s ig n i fi can t co n s t i t u t i o n al

co n cern s.”).

7As t h e Su p rem e Co urt o f Geo rg i a h as h el d wh en co n t em p l at i n g t h e i s s u es o f

h arm an d cu s t o d y , a t ri al co urt m u s t g o b ey o n d t h e p aren t ’ s b i o l o g ical co n n ect i o n o r

p res en t fi t n es s an d co n s id er a v ari et y o f fact o rs , i n cl u d i n g :

(1 ) wh o are t h e p as t an d p res en t caret ak ers of t h e ch i l d ; (2 ) wi t h wh om

h as t h e ch i ld fo rm ed p s y ch o l o g i cal b on d s

. . . ; (3 ) h av e th e co m pet i n g

p art i es ev i d en ced i n t eres t i n , an d co n t act wi t h

, t h e ch il d o v er t i m e; an d

(4 ) d o es t h e ch i l d h av e u n i q u e m ed i cal o r p s y ch o l o g i cal n eed s th at o ne

p art y i s b et ter ab l e t o m eet

. 1 2

Here, as t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d i n i t s th o ro ug h fi n al o rd er, t he two ch i l d ren h av e

p ri m ari l y l iv ed wi t h M i ll er s i n c e B r a w n er an d Cam eas e s ep arat ed an d h av e n ever

l i ved w i t h Brawn er. In d eed

, as Mi l l er tes t i fi ed

, t he b o y s co ns i d er M i l l er’ s h om e t o b e

t h ei r h o m e. In ad d i t io n , t he reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e b o y s h av e a s tro n g b on d w i t h M i l l er

an d th ei r au n t

, an d t h at t he s t ren g t h an d co m pas s i o n en d em ic of t h i s b o nd h av e b een

p art i cu l arl y im

p o rt an t i n t h e wak e o f t h ei r m o t h er’ s t rag i c m u rd er. Fu rt h erm o re, s i nce

t h e e n d of h i s rel at i o n s h i p wi th Cam eas e, Brawn er h as u t t erl y fai l ed t o fu l fi l l h i s

p aren t al res p o n s i bil i t y t o as si s t i n fi n an ci al ly s u pp o rt in g h i s ch i l d ren to s u ch an ex t en t

t h at a co u rt h el d hi m in co n tem p t

. Bu t m o s t i m

p o rt an t l y (g i v en t h e co n s t i t u t i o n al

1 2 Cl a r k

, 2 7 3 Ga. at 5 9 8-9 9 (IV) (p l ural it y o p i n i o n ) (fo o t n ot es an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Bo d

d ie

, 2 8 8 Ga. at 14 5 ; Li vel

y v. Bo wen , 2 7 2 Ga. A p p

. 4 7 9, 4 8 4 (1 ) (6 1 2 SE2 d 6 2 5 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

8p ri n ci p l es g raft ed o nt o t he st at ut o ry reg i m e at i s su e), 1 3 Brawn er h as i nt eract ed wi th

t h e b o y s o n l y s p o rad i cal l y s i n ce h e a n d t h ei r m ot h er s ep arat ed

, v i s i t i ng t h em

o c cas io n al l y an d at t en d i n g o n l y a few s ch o o l ev en t s an d ex t ra-cu rri cu lar act i v i t i es

d es p it e l i v i n g a m ere fi ve bl ocks a wa y fro m Mi l l er. 1 4 As M il l er t es t i fi ed

, an d t h e t ri al

co u rt rei t erat ed

, t he bo y s are st i l l s t ru g g l i n g em o t i o nal l y fro m t h e s u dd en an d t rag i c

l o s s o f t h ei r m o t h er. An d al t h o u g h t h ey are b eg i nn i n g t o h eal fro m th i s s ev ere

1 3 S ee Tr o xel

, 53 0 U .S. at 6 5 (II) (p l u ral i t y op i n i o n ) (“ Th e l i b ert y i n t eres t at
i s su e in t h i s cas e— t h e i n t eres t o f p aren t s i n t h e care, cu s t o d y , a n d co n t ro l o f t h ei r ch i l d ren

— is p erh ap s t h e o l d es t o f t h e fu n dam en t al l i b ert y i n teres t s reco g n ized b y t h i s Co u rt .”); Bl a ckb ur n v. B l a ckb u r n

, 2 4 9 G a

. 6 89

, 6 92 (2 ) (2 9 2 SE2 d 8 2 1 ) (1 9 8 2 ) (ack n o w l ed g i ng th at “ freed o m o f p ers o n al ch o i ce i n m at t ers of fam i l y l i f e i s a fu n d am en t al l i b ert y i n t eres t p r o t e c t e d b y t h e Un it ed St at es Co n s ti t ut i o n

. . . .”);

Br o oks v. P a t t er

s o n , 2 65 Ga. 1 8 9

, 1 9 1 (2 ) (a) (4 5 4 SE2 d 7 6 9 ) (n o t i ng t h at t h e Su p rem e Co urt o f th e Un i t ed St at es h as “ l on g reco g n i zed a co n st i tu t i o n al ly p ro t ect ed

i n t eres t o f p aren t s t o rai s e t h ei r ch i l d ren w i t ho u t u nd u e s t at e i n t e r f e r e n ce.”); In t h e In t er es t o f J. E.

, 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1

, 6 2 (7 1 1 SE2 d 5 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (Di l l ard

, J

., d i s s en t i n g ) (n o t i ng t hat “ u n d er b ot h t h e Un i t ed St at es an d Geo rg i a Co n s t i t u ti o n s , a paren t h as a fu n d am en t al co n s t i t u t io nal ri g h t t o , an d l i b ert y i n t eres t i n, t h e care, cu s to d y , an d

m an ag em en t o f hi s o r h er ch i l d ren , an d t h at t h e St at e m ay n ot i nfri n g e up o n o r s ev er

t h i s fi ercel y g uard ed ri g h t o f fam i l i al rel at io n s ex cep t i n t h e m os t co m p el l i n g an d

ex t rao rd i n ary

o f ci rcu m s t an ces .”).

1 4 Cf

. In t h e In t er es t o

f E

. G

. , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5, 48 (7 2 6 SE2 d 5 10 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (Di l lard

, J

., co n cu rri n g fu l l y an d s p eci al l y ) (“ [I] t is on e t h i n g i f a p a r e n t d es i res to

care fo r hi s o r her ch il d b ut s i m p l y l ack s t h e fi n an ci al wh erewi t h al or em o t i o n al

cap ab i l i ty t o d o so b u t qu i t e an o t h er fo r a paren t t o wi l l fu l l y d i s reg ard o r ab an d o n h i s

o r h er p aren t al d ut i es .”); In t h e In t er es t o f A. E. S

. , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 66 7

, 6 7 1 (7 1 4 SE2 d

1 4 8 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (Di ll ard , J ., co n cu rri ng s p eci al ly ) (s am e).

9em ot i o n al t rau m a, t he h eal i ng p ro ces s wi l l u n do u b ted l y b e h arm ed i f t h ey are, at t h i s

p o i n t in t i m e, u pro o t ed fro m t h e o n l y h o m e t h ey h av e ev er k n o wn to li v e wi th a fat h er

w h o , wh i l e p erh ap s wel l -m ean i n g , h as y et to bu i l d a m ean i n g fu l rel at i o n s h i p wi t h

t h em

. Gi v en t h e p art i cu l ar an d u n i q u e ci rcu m s t an ces p res en t ed i n th e cas e s u b j u d i ce ,

an d i n v i ew o f t he fo u r fact o rs p r e s c r i b ed b y o ur Su p rem e Co u rt (n o ted s u p r a ), as

wel l as t h e u nd erl y i n g co n s t i tu ti o n al p ri n ci p les (l i k ewi s e n o t ed s u p r a ), we co n cl u d e

t h at t h ere was cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev id en ce t o s u pp o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n

t h at th e ch i l dren wi l l s u ffer s i g n i fi can t

, l o n g -t erm em o ti o n al h arm if t h e fat h er i s

g i v en cu s t o d y

at t h i s t im e. 1 5

Fo r al l o f t he fo reg o i n g r e a s o n s , we affi rm th e t ri al co u rt ’ s award o f cu s t o dy

t o M i l ler.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . El l i n g t o n , P. J., a n d McFa d den , J., co ncu r

.

1 5 See Li vel

y , 2 7 2 Ga. A p p

. at 48 4 (1 ) (h o l di n g t hat pat ern al g ran d m o t h er

es t ab l i s h ed by cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce i n cu s t o d y m a t t e r t h at ch i l d wo u ld

s u ffer s i g n ifi can t

, l on g -t erm em o t i o nal h arm i f s h e were r e t u rn ed t o cu s t o d y o f h er

m o th er).

10