Court Opinion

ID: 9728549
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 14:10:52.256917+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:49.637624
License: Public Domain

SAND, Justice,
concurring specially and dissenting.
I concur in many of the principles of law announced in the majority opinion, except as noted herein.
The majority opinion states that the constitutional question need not be decided because the dispute or issue is resolved on other grounds. Nevertheless, the opinion *498discussed some phase of this issue and seems to bolster its conclusion as if the child’s preference were the equivalent of a constitutional right, which prompts me to make some observations regarding the child’s constitutional right in this case.
The resolution of the issue whether or not a United States citizen child, whose parents are divorced, has a constitutional right to remain in the United States with one parent or live in another country with the other parent is not an end to the complex problem between parent and child. A person, whether an adult or a child, possesses certain constitutional rights. In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 13, 87 S.Ct. 1428, 1436, 18 L.Ed.2d 527 (1967). This constitutional right is no greater or more absolute than the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment, for which see 16 Am.Jur.2d Constitutional Law § 506, p. 341. The First Amendment rights between individuals, or between individuals and the government, need to be weighed and balanced. 16 Am. Jur.2d, supra.
Similarly, a complete resolution of the child’s constitutional right would have to recognize a bundle of rights, obligations, and privileges of the parents as well as other factors which need to be balanced, weighed, considered and resolved. One of these factors involves finances. As an example and to put it bluntly, the constitutional right to travel in itself does not include the necessary finances to accomplish the travel. The magnitude of the financial matter can best be illustrated or recognized where both parents for valid reasons, such as employment, etc., had to, or elected to, live in another country for an extended period of time. In the instant case the record is meager regarding the finances needed to carry out the edict of the court or the capabilities of the parents under such arrangement.
Section 14-09-06.2, North Dakota Century Code, states that:
“For the purpose of custody, the best interests and welfare of the child shall be determined by the court’s consideration and evaluation of all factors affecting the best interests and welfare of the child. These factors include all of the following when applicable.”
This section then sets forth various items or factors from 1 through 10 which may be taken into consideration in deciding custody of children between divorced parents. In the absence of any specific provision to the contrary, it is logical to assume that all of these items or factors may be introduced at the hearing for consideration in the record under our adversary system in a manner comparable to the introduction or production of any evidence. This contemplates that the evidence be presented under oath and subject to cross-examination.
Section 14-09-06.2(9), NDCC, states:
“The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference.”
It does not contain any language suggesting that the evidence establishing the preference is or should not be subject to the ordinary rules of evidence and procedure.1 *499Nor have we developed any court rule to the contrary even though the child’s preference was asked in previous eases. See Jordana v. Corley, 220 N.W.2d 515 (N.D. 1974), and special concurring opinion by Judge Vogel;2 Moran v. Moran, 200 N.W.2d 263, 268, (N.D. 1972); McKay v. Mitzel, 137 N.W.2d 792 (N.D. 1965); Ex parte Sidle, 31 N.D. 405, 154 N.W. 277 (1915). The record in this case discloses that the child was interviewed by the Judge in chambers with only the court reporter present. The same procedure was followed in Jordana, supra, without comment from this Court, except in the concurring opinion. The transcript does not indicate that counsel for the respective parents were permitted to present any questions to the Judge to be asked. I believe we are all agreed that the best interests of the child are the prevailing factors to be considered.
As to a child’s wishes as a factor in awarding custody, an excellent annotation appears in 4 A.L.R.3d 1396. The annotation contains numerous cases involving children of different ages and what should be considered in determining the preference of a child. The annotation also contains cases where the preference was followed and where the preference was not followed.
The Legislature, in enacting § 14-09-06.-2, NDCC, merely provided that the child’s preference may be considered. It did not require that the preference be obtained. I have reservations regarding the wisdom of subjecting a child to this additional trauma in an already traumatic situation. I believe a child, in its best interest, should be given an opportunity to decline from stating any preference and at the slightest hint that the child does not wish to state a preference any further proceedings in that direction should promptly cease. Irreparable injury may result to the parent and child relationship where the child is asked to state its preference. See, special concurring opinion by Justice Vogel in Jordana, supra. My reservations are stronger where the child is asked to state its preference as distinguished from a situation where the child has already voluntarily expressed its preference. Even in those cases, caution must be exercised in asking a child to state its preference. Furthermore, what assurances are there that within a short period of time the preference will not change? In any event, where the child states a preference every effort should be made to determine if the child’s preference is or was the result of undue influence by or through either parent. The child, during the interview, initially indicated a reluctance to express a preference.
On another phase of this case, the court alluded to the difficulty of putting everything together from the earlier divorce trial and the task of reading the available transcript, if any. The court obviously was concerned about the existing conditions and circumstances at the time of the divorce and if there were any substantive changes since then to warrant a change of custody. *500The changes, if any, were not established. The parties (parents) seemed to have avoided this issue.
The record discloses that the foregoing concepts were not followed which indicates to me that the case should be affirmed or remanded for further proceedings. In view of this, I am not in a position to agree that the trial court made a mistake in not giving preference to the child’s wishes. The majority opinion does not state, and it is not apparent to me, on what basis the conclusion was made that the trial court made a mistake in not accepting the child’s preference. All we have is a cold transcript. Also, for the reasons stated earlier herein, I do not deem it advisable to excerpt any of the child’s statements made in chambers in the presence of only the court and the reporter.

. 67A C.J.S. Parent & Child § 36 “Evidence,” page 268:
“Although precise rules of evidence are somewhat relaxed in custody proceedings where the welfare of children is involved, when the issue of custody is contested, the interest of the parties requires that the facts be shown by competent evidence, and this should be accomplished by the substantial observance of customary rules of evidence.” The same authority, in § 38b “Examination of
Child,” page 284 states:
“Moreover, where parental consent is given, a judge’s private examination of the child concerned is proper, and, in fact, confidential interviews between court and child are encouraged; and it is held that parental consent in such an interview is not always necessary. While counsel, at least, ought to be present at a private interview, the judge has the discretion to interview the child privately without the presence of counsel. Under some circumstances, private interviews have been deemed improper. Unless there is a waiver by the parties, a record of a private interview should be made, and, immediately after the interview, its contents should be made known to the parties and counsel in the proceedings.”
*499Raper v. Berrier, 97 S.E.2d 782 (Sup.Ct. N.C. 1957), stated the constitution requires an open hearing. Commonwealth ex rel. Scott v. Rider, 248 Pa.Super. 383, 375 A.2d 149 (1977), case was remanded for evidentiary hearing. Flaherty v. Smith, 87 Mich.App. 561, 274 N.W.2d 72 (1979), case was remanded for evidentiary hearing even though the trial judge had concluded it was improper. See Annotation, 99 A.L.R.2d 955, Custody of Child-Private Interview.

. “I do not believe it is beneficial for courts to ask children what their preferences are as to custody. Of course, courts cannot prevent (except by persuasion) the parties from calling the children as witnesses. If the parties insist, I agree that it is better for the court to make inquiries in chambers, preferably in the presence of counsel. I take it that the commendation of the trial court in the majority opinion refers to this procedure, and not to the practice of asking the children for their preferences. It would be better, I believe, to leave the children out of the matter entirely. In the first place, it must create a feeling of guilt in any child to have to disappoint one of two parents he loves by expressing a preference for the other. Psychological problems can be expected whether the child makes the choice or refuses to do so. In the second place, if the child knows (and he usually does) that placements are not final and that he may be asked in the future to express a preference, he may consciously or unconsciously use that knowledge to extort favors from one or both parents-not a cheerful harbinger of a normal relationship with either parent.”