Court Opinion

ID: 9733286
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 17:01:16.50335+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:40.192036
License: Public Domain

Williams, J.
(concurring). In light of the disruption that this divorce and child custody case has already caused in the life of this 11-year-old child, I concur with my Brother, Justice Ryan. I would like to note, however, that I am far less confident than he that the trial judge made the correct decision in awarding custody to the mother.
First of all, I am not so sure that the environment surrounding the mother would be better than that surrounding the father. Second, I do not agree that the separation of the parents and ultimate divorce destroyed the pre-separation environment. The child was certainly affected by the separation of his parents, but his ties with the community remained, such as the same school, the same playmates, the same family ties and participation in extra-curricular activities. These factors are especially important in the life of a young child when his parents are separated or divorced and, therefore, should not be cast aside lightly.