Court Opinion

ID: 9551153
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:48:30.230721+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:23:10.711551
License: Public Domain

THOMAS, Chief Justice,
specially concurring.
I feel that I am bound by our rules on review which require that a clear abuse of discretion be identified in order for this court to interfere with the exercise of the trial court’s discretion with respect to awarding custody. I am constrained to say, however, that only the facts that Mr. Curless testified to abstention and also apparently was committed to a controlled substance rehabilitation program prevent me from finding a clear abuse of discretion. This case is marginal, but given the clearly deleterious effects of controlled substance use in our society I would have a very difficult time sustaining an award of custody by a trial court to a parent who did use controlled substances unlawfully and was not at the time of the custody award actively involved in adjusting that life style.