Court Opinion

ID: 9739075
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:08:22.879481+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:09.863848
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(specially concurring).
Notwithstanding the facts, as portrayed by the majority opinion, the factual showing in this case reflected the father’s ability to provide for his son’s spiritual, moral, physical and economic welfare.* Father and son have an extremely close relationship and this was testified to by three witnesses. Since the mother left the family home, in June of 1987, father and son have experienced a general uplifting in their pursuit of happiness. The record is replete with the son’s prospering in school and social relationships.
It is true that the trial judge did not set forth the “compelling reasons” in express language, nor use any magical words to delineate “compelling reasons”. However, the trial judge weighed his decision carefully on the custody matter which is exemplified by expressions of the excellent relationship between the father and the son as well as a healthy environment.

 Reference is made to footnote 2 in the majority opinion. Appellant and Appellee both assiduously briefed the issue of the trial court’s award of D.J. to the father under the "best interests of the child” rule. SDCL 30-27-19; Flint v. Flint, 334 N.W.2d 680, 681-2 (S.D.1983). This statutory authority and hallowed precedent requires the trial judge, in awarding custody of minors, to consider the best interests of the child's temporal, mental, and moral welfare. At the time the trial judge decided this, said issue was foursquare before the trial court.