Opinion ID: 1784419
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the trial court erred when it entered the Order For Genetic Testing before applying the best interest of the child standard.

Text: ¶ 3. A Chancellor's findings are not to be disturbed unless the chancellor is manifestly wrong, clearly erroneous, or an erroneous legal standard was applied. Ferrara v. Walters, 919 So.2d 876, 881 (Miss.2005). The standard of review with respect to the chancellor's decision to order a paternity test is manifest error. Sanderson v. Sanderson, 824 So.2d 623, 626 (Miss.2002). ¶ 4. Rusty first argues that the trial court erred in ordering genetic testing because the court did not first engage in factfinding to determine whether a paternity test would be in the child's best interest, invoking the foundational best interest of the child rule present throughout Mississippi jurisprudence in cases involving children. He cites Dept. Of Human Services v. Jones, 627 So.2d 810, 811 (Miss.1993) for this well established rule, but presents no authority which supports his argument that the best interest determination must be made first, before the genetic testing is done. Rusty relies entirely on Griffith v. Pell, 881 So.2d 184 (Miss.2004) and the cases cited therein for his assertion that the best interest standard be applied before the testing, but his reliance is misplaced, as discussed infra. ¶ 5. Hank responds by pointing out that Miss.Code Ann. Section 93-9-21(2) (Rev.1999), provides in its entirety, that [t]he court, on its own motion or on motion of the plaintiff or defendant, shall order the mother, the alleged father and the child or children to submit to genetic tests and any other tests which reasonably prove or disprove the probability of paternity. (Emphasis added.) In Ivy v. Harrington, 644 So.2d 1218, 1221 (Miss.1994), this Court noted that Section 93-9-21 was amended in 1987 to allow a putative father, plaintiff in a paternity action, to move for an order requiring blood tests. The Ivy Court went on to say that the word shall is a mandatory directive, and thus no discretion is afforded the trial judge, and the motion for paternity must be granted. Id. at 1221. ¶ 6. Hank also asserts the importance of genetic testing to determine such issues as inheritance rights and assessment of medical predispositions. Finally, Hank correctly argues that the best interest of the child should be considered only after the results of the genetic test. He cites the Griffith decision, also relied upon by Rusty, that holds that the best interest of a child, which is at the heart of a paternity action, would be best addressed in the divorce proceeding, not in the paternity action. 881 So.2d at 186. ¶ 7. Statutory construction of the plain language of Miss.Code Ann. Section 93-9-21(2), cited by the trial court as authority for its ruling, constrains us to conclude that the word shall is a mandatory directive. As a consequence, in a proceeding to establish paternity, upon motion by either the plaintiff or defendant for an order requiring blood tests, the trial judge must grant the motion. Even if a trial court determined it was not in the child's best interests to require a paternity test, all that is necessary, under the statute as it currently exists, is for either the plaintiff or defendant in a suit regarding paternity to move for a test to be done. No discretion is afforded. Notwithstanding the breadth and depth and importance of the best interest of the child doctrine in Mississippi jurisprudence, the legislature was very clear in its unconditional amendment of 93-9-21. Unless and until that body sees fit to change it, we are bound by it. Notwithstanding good arguments to the contrary in this situation, the trial court and this Court must follow the mandate of the legislature. ¶ 8. Because we affirm the trial court on this first issue, on statutory grounds, we do not address issues two and three raised by Rusty, regarding clean hands, laches, equitable estoppel, and the appointment of a guardian ad litem. These issues, in a different context, and different arena, will be appropriate for consideration by the trial court after receiving the results of the genetic testing.