Opinion ID: 1060750
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Post-Trial Events

Text: Teri Parker appealed the custody ruling. Since there was no transcript of the trial, the trial court held a post-trial hearing to reconcile differences in the parties' proposed statements of evidence from recollection. In alleging that the trial court's ruling had been affected by racial bias, Teri Parker proposed to include a statement allegedly made by the trial judge during the cross-examination of her mother, Gail Scism: She [Wife's mother] comes from the same school I do. She can't help the way she feels. Society today feels differently than the way we were brought up (this referred to the wife who is white, seeing Dr. Sidberry, who is black). Counsel for Teri Parker argued that the parenthetical reference reflected the context in which the trial judge's statement had been made. The trial judge conceded that he had made a similar statement but denied that there was any inference of racial bias as set forth in the proposed parenthetical: You can take the parenthesis out, I never referred to that. The Appellate Court can put any kind of interpretation they want to on it, but I am telling you, that's not my interpretation. That is not the way I intended it. The court explained: Never did Iand I do this in a lot of cases, I just have what children said. I have aam very much concerned with people, I guess for lack of a better term, shacking up. I am not referring to white and black. I am talking about people that live together without the benefit of marriage in front of children. No where did I ever meanreferring to Dr. Seaberry [sic], that he was black, no where did I mean that. What I was talking about in that case and I think if you have a transcript you will find out that I was talking about people that just go out ... and shacking up, with children. I am opposed to that. The lawyers who regularly practice in front of me know that. I don't think that it is good for children, and that is what I was referring to. No where did I ever make any commentit looked like to me ever since this trial started, has been trying to make effort to say that the Court has some objection [to] interracial associations. I don't care whether they are black, white, red or what they are, I am not going to allow childrenI don't allow children, some of them have toto be around people that live together without the benefit of marriage. I am just opposed to it. And that is what I was referring to. No where did I ever intend nor do I even feel that way. So, I think it has beenI don't know where this come [sic] from, but I probably made some kind of a statement in there about that. When counsel for Teri Parker requested an opportunity to elaborate, the trial court said: No. If you are referring to interracialif you are referring to interracial, my concern about interracial marriages, interracial babies, you can forget it. I never said anything like that. I am talking about people that live in front of children, that's whatthat is what I am opposed to and I will tell you in a minute, and I don't carethe Appellate Court may think I am wrong, if they do, they can tell me. But it is just no good for children. The trial court denied counsel's request to conduct an evidentiary hearing on the issue or to permit counsel to make an offer of proof. The trial court then approved the statement of evidence proffered by Richard Parker for use on appeal, which deleted the statements at issue. On appeal, the Court of Appeals held that the trial court erred in refusing to permit the inclusion of his comments in the statement of evidence, but properly refused to include the parenthetical information. The appeals court further held that it was improper to admit the nurse practitioner's testimony about the harmful effects of an interracial relationship on a minor child. The Court of Appeals nonetheless concluded: There is evidence in the record from which the trial court could conclude that Wife's extramarital relationship caused her to neglect the child. Although this is denied by Wife, when an issue hinges on the credibility of witnesses, the trial court will not be reversed unless there is found in the record clear, concrete, and convincing evidence other than the oral testimony of witnesses that contradicts the trial court's findings. (Citation omitted). Nothing in the record supports a finding that either parent is unfit. Under the comparative fitness doctrine, however, a parent need only be relatively more fit than the other in order to be awarded custody. Even considering the errors above, the preponderance of the evidence weighs in favor of the trial court's determination that custody by the Husband was in the best interest of the child. Therefore, the trial court is affirmed on this issue.