Court Opinion

ID: 9843671
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 02:41:31.678961+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:51.333100
License: Public Domain

SANDSTROM, Justice,
dissenting.
[¶ 20] Domestic violence is unacceptable. “Clearly ... the victim’s ‘pushing the buttons’ of the perpetrator does not justify or excuse domestic violence.” Anderson v. Hensrud, 548 N.W.2d 410, 414 (N.D.1996) (Sandstrom, J., concurring specially).
[¶ 21] In this ease, both parents have engaged in substantial domestic violence. Both have been the initiator of violence. Recognizing the serious problem with both parents, the district court decided custody based on the best interests of the children, evaluating all the factors of the statute, N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2(1).
[¶ 22] The majority says the violence of the marriage should be scored like a boxing match and the children should go to the parent scoring the fewest points (unless there is a virtual tie). Instead of following the district court and asking what is in the best interests of the children, the majority says the district court wrongly scored the boxing match.