Opinion ID: 1852434
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Visitation Statutes

Text: [¶ 7] Under N.D.C.C. § 14-05-22(3), if the court finds that a parent has perpetrated domestic violence and there exists one instance of domestic violence which resulted in serious bodily injury or involved the use of a dangerous weapon or there exists a pattern of domestic violence in a reasonable time proximate to the proceeding, the court shall only allow supervised child visitation with that parent unless there is a showing by clear and convincing evidence that unsupervised visitation would not endanger the child's physical or emotional health. Under N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2(1)(j), if the court makes a similar finding of domestic violence, a rebuttable presumption is created that the parent who has perpetrated domestic violence may not be awarded custody of the child. The presumption may be overcome only by clear and convincing evidence that the best interests of the child require that parent's participation as a custodial parent. Roland asserts these statutory provisions unconstitutionally shift the burden of proof onto the parent to prove he deserves his basic constitutional rights of custody and visitation with his child. [¶ 8] Roland did not raise this issue before the trial court. It is well settled that an issue not presented to the trial court will not be considered for the first time on appeal. Allied v. Dir. of N.D. Dep't of Transp., 1999 ND 2, ¶ 6, 589 N.W.2d 201. This constraint applies with particular force to a constitutional issue. Id. We, therefore, conclude Roland has failed to preserve this constitutional argument, and we decline to address it.