Opinion ID: 2582141
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the jurisdiction of the magistrate

Text: The first issue Theron raises on appeal is the jurisdiction of the magistrate to hear the petitions for modification of custody, because the trial court dismissed both petitions in its October 24, 2001, Order for Counseling. Theron maintains that because the trial court dismissed both petitions in that Order, it was without jurisdiction to reinstate them and Shawn was required to refile a petition to modify custody in order for the magistrate to have jurisdiction to consider it. Clearly, the magistrate judge had personal jurisdiction over both parties to this action, so the only issue relates to subject matter jurisdiction. We do not agree with Theron's analysis of the magistrate's authority to act. The Order for Counseling issued by the magistrate judge was the result of a stipulation by both parties agreeing to the dismissal of their petitions and to attend counseling with Dr. Harper, in an effort to resolve the issues between them. As the record shows, Dr. Harper subsequently wrote to the magistrate in January 2002, stating that counseling had reached an impasse largely due to Theron's refusal to attend joint counseling with Shawn and his presentation of a list of demands which he asserted must be met before he would proceed further with the counseling. As such, the magistrate was faced with a situation where there remained substantial issues in a child custody case that needed to be resolved by the court due to the inability of the parents to settle these issues on their own. Section 32-717 of the Idaho Code states in part: In an action for divorce the court may, before and after judgment, give such direction for the custody, care and education of the children of the marriage as may seem necessary or proper in the best interests of the children. This statute confers continuing jurisdiction in matters pertaining to child custody. Stockwell v. Stockwell, 116 Idaho 297, 303, 775 P.2d 611, 617 (1989); Ford v. Ford, 108 Idaho 443, 444-45, 700 P.2d 65, 66-67 (1985); Chislett v. Cox, 102 Idaho 295, 298, 629 P.2d 691, 694 (1981). In Idaho, the courts retain jurisdiction, that is the authority to preside over child custody matters, over minor children in divorce and custody proceedings until they reach the age of majority, and consequently there can be no loss of subject matter jurisdiction until the children are no longer subject to the court's authority. Theron cites the case of Castle v. Hays, 131 Idaho 373, 957 P.2d 351 (1998) to support his contention that a party must seek relief from an order of dismissal within fourteen days according to I.R.C.P. 11(a)(2)(B) or file an appeal to obtain appellate review, and that failure to take such steps results in a divestiture of jurisdiction. However, Castle was a personal injury action which had been dismissed for inactivity and is not like a child custody case where the court retains continuing jurisdiction. Here, Theron and Shawn both consented to the reinstatement of their petitions to modify custody and Theron proceeded to trial without objecting to the procedure being followed. Where both parties in a child custody proceeding agree to treat the former petitions as properly filed before the court and proceed accordingly, the court is not divested of jurisdiction.