Court Opinion

ID: 9668334
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 02:09:43.709001+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:44.700691
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(concurring specially).
In addition to the facts depicted in the majority opinion, there are certain additional facts which are crucial to support Judge Kern’s decision insofar as separating these siblings (compelling reasons) and awarding custody of this girl (best interests of the child) to her father. Such facts include:
1) Child complaining that her mother forgot to feed her;
2) Child complaining on many occasions that she would not get a full meal but would get only a sandwich;
3) Child complaining that her “mama lies”;
4) Child expressing that she wanted to stay with her Daddy every night;
5) Child drawing pictures exhibiting that she lived in a house which was *270dark and reflecting the mother being outside in a car and with an “X” over the house, stating she did not want to live in that house anymore;
6) Mother trying to hide child behind a tree so that father could not see the child;
7) Child complaining that mother tried to make her “duck down” in a car because “mama was there with Mervin ducking down” (the cunning exposed here was teaching the little girl to be involved and clandestine in the mother’s affair);
8) A decade of difference in the ages of child and the two children by appellant’s first marriage;
9) Mother’s lifestyle of partying, and being with “friends” who were adults likewise in a partying atmosphere; child exposed to this;
10) Evidence that there was no close bond and shared childhood existing between child and her half-siblings, including sworn testimony that child’s half-sister was interested in her teenage life and would decline association, repeatedly, with child, including statement by half-sister that child should go to the Dad because he has the time; and
11) Child was just finishing kindergarten and half-sister was graduating from high school; commonality of interests not shared.
Justification for the splitting of custody can be compelling because of the circumstances of each case. In my special concurrence in Mayer, 397 N.W.2d at 646, cited by the majority, I cited situations where splitting custody could be compelling. One of those reasons was the “inability of either parent to care for all of the children.” Here, this mother, because of her lifestyle, was unable to care for this little girl. Even the little girl recognized that she could not survive on lies and sandwiches. She knew it was wrong to duck down in a car and to hide behind a tree. She so detested her life that she drew pictures to display her hostility towards her life with her mother. Judge Kern recognized this and found it to be in the best interests of the child to award child to the father, and likewise found compelling reasons to thereby split this little girl away from her half-brother and half-sister. Without repeating the authorities for Judge Kern’s action, I refer to the authorities specified in my special concurrence in Mayer.
In summation, we ordinarily would see the best interests and welfare of the children promoted if they live together in one home enjoying a natural association of brother and sister, or brother and brother, or sister and sister. Andersen v. Andersen, 399 N.W.2d 363 (S.D.1987) (citing In re Marriage of Gonzales, 373 N.W.2d 152, 155 (Iowa App.1985); and In re Marriage of Little, 26 Wash.App. 814, 818, 614 P.2d 240, 243 (1980)). See also In re Marriage of Orte, 389 N.W.2d 373 (Iowa 1986). This does not, however, as a judicial holding, repeal the State Legislature’s will reflected by SDCL 30-27-19, which absolutely requires a trial judge to consider the best interests of a child in respect to its temporal, mental, and moral welfare. Though it is seldom mentioned, that same statute prohibits a preference of one parent, over the other, “in determining custody.” Rather, the ultimate criteria is the “best interests of the child,” and that is precisely how this circuit judge viewed his responsibility. Compelling reasons here existed to separate a brother and two sisters. Cf. Doan Thi Hoang Anh v. Nelson, 245 N.W.2d 511 (Iowa 1976).