Case Name: STEWART v. STEWART
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1950-11-02
Citations: 185 F.2d 436
Docket Number: No. 10555
Parties: STEWART v. STEWART.
Judges: Before WILBUR K. MILLER, WASHINGTON and GRONER (retired), Circuit Judges.
Reporter: Federal Reporter 2d Series
Volume: 185
Pages: 436–437

Head Matter:
STEWART v. STEWART.
No. 10555.
United States Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit.
Argued Get. 19, 1950.
Decided Nov. 2, 1950.
Rolland G. Lamensdorf, Washington, D. C., with whom Jesse B. Messitte, Washington, D. C., was on the brief, for appellant
Harry L. Ryan, Jr., Washington, D. C., for appellee.
Before WILBUR K. MILLER, WASHINGTON and GRONER (retired), Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The divorce statutes in effect in the District of Columbia prohibit the granting of a decree of divorce to any person not a bonafide resident of the District for one year preceding the filing of his complaint. And we have said the word "residence" means domicile. Downs v. Downs, 23 App.D.C. 381. The only question in this case is whether plaintiff-appellee has sustained this burden. Two of the judges of the District Court who saw the witnesses and heard the testimony during different phases of the case were each of opinion that appellee's evidence fully satisfied the statutory requirement. In such circumstances we have said time and again that the trial court's finding has a weight similar to that of the verdict of a jury and will not be disturbed on appeal unless a mistake of judgment is so apparent as to demand a reversal. Frazier v. Frazier, 61 App.D.C. 279-280, 61 F.2d 920. This is not the case here. See also 52(a), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A.
Affirmed.