Court Opinion

ID: 9531143
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:08:01.281578+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:21.337824
License: Public Domain

Schwellenbach, J.
(dissenting in part) — I disagree with the following statement of the majority:
“Where both parents are proper persons to have the custody of minor children and where they show an equal interest in their offspring, it is, of course, to the advantage of all concerned if the children spend some of their time with each parent.”
We have stated many times in divorce cases that the welfare of the children is the paramount concern of the courts. When a couple come into a divorce court admitting the failure of their marriage, they place upon the court the responsibility for the future welfare of their children. Their only *170right in their children, from then on, is such right as is given to them by the court in the exercise of its discretion.
In the instant case the interlocutory order gave the custody of the children to the mother, subject to the right of reasonable visitation by the father, and subject to his right, “if he so elects, to have the companionship of said children during the summer vacations of their school terms.” The father did not so elect from 1944 through 1946. In 1947, when he elected to take the children, they were sent to him. He so elected again in 1948, but the children were not sent to him, and this proceeding for change of custody was instituted.
Although I would not have found that the mother acted arbitrarily in not sending the children to their father in 1948, still I cannot say that the record clearly preponderates ' against such finding by the trial court. However, I cannot agree with the court’s conclusion that the custody of the children should be taken from the mother and given to the father. There is nothing in the record to show that the mother was not fit to have their custody. The court was interested in punishing the mother rather than in the welfare of the children. By so doing the judge acted as arbitrarily as the mother, instead of exercising the judicial discretion which the law places upon him in such matters.
At any rate, I cannot agree with the majority that the custody should be awarded jointly to the parents. It has been my experience as a trial judge that joint custody does not bring satisfactory results. Divided responsibility ends too often in constant bickering between the parents, each trying to exert authority — all to the detriment of the children. I believe that the interests of the children would best be served if their custody remained in the mother, with the right of the father, whenever he so elects, to have them during the summer vacations. I do not believe that the mother will disobey such a mandate.