Court Opinion

ID: 9760090
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 00:40:19.53056+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:08.245060
License: Public Domain

LIPEZ, Judge,
concurring:
I agree generally with the majority’s analysis, and specifically with their conclusion that it is in the boys’ best interests that they remain in the custody of their mother. However, their use of an abuse of discretion standard (which appears in a number of this court’s opinions,1 as the majority opinion demonstrates) is incompatible with the broadest type of review and independent judgment effecting a just result mandated by a whole host of Supreme Court decisions. See, e.g., Commonwealth ex rel. Pierce v. Pierce, 493 Pa. 292, 426 A.2d 555 (1981); Commonwealth ex rel. Bendrick v. White, 403 Pa. 55, 169 A.2d 69 (1961). (“It is our duty not simply to determine from the record whether the trial court has abused its discretion but to examine all the evidence and render an independent determination.”) See also the rejection of the abuse standard in: panel opinion by Spaeth, J. in L.D. v. B.D., 291 Pa.Super. 589, 436 A.2d 657 (1981); concurring opinions by Spaeth, J. in Commonwealth ex rel. Montgomery v. Montgomery, 296 Pa.Super. 325, 442 A.2d 791 (1982) and Commonwealth ex rel. Berman v. Berman, 289 Pa.Super. 91, 432 A.2d 1066 (1981); concurring opinion by Hoffman, J. in In re Arnold, 286 Pa.Super. 171, 428 A.2d 627 (1981); panel opinion by Brosky, J., in Robert H.H. v. May L.H., 293 Pa.Super. 431, 439 A.2d 187 (1981). Nevertheless, the majority here expressly states that their independent review of the record confirms the finding of the hearing court, and I agree.

. I too joined in one such opinion, In re custody of J.S.S., 298 Pa.Super. 428, 444 A.2d 1251 (1982). I now recant my error.