Court Opinion

ID: 9444553
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 21:05:10.979924+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:29:55.213479
License: Public Domain

FAHY, Circuit Judge
(dissenting as to the manner in which the question of custody is disposed of).
I agree that notwithstanding the Tow-son case the District Court was empowered to award custody of the child to the wife, but I think that in part the power was erroneously exercised and that we should so decide. Neither parent is shown to be unfit to have the child’s custody. The home of each, available to the child, is a good one. To use the words of the trial judge, the father’s home with his own parents is “a beautiful home”. In these circumstances the child, now approaching the age of four, should have the companionship and care of both his father and mother to a greater degree than the decree permits. The paramount duty of a court to make such disposition of the problem as is thought to be conducive to the welfare of the child is to be carried out ordinarily within the bounds of the family circle. The court does not suggest a departure from this principle; but the family circle in such a case should include the home with the father as well as that with the mother. A division of custody until or unless under the continuing supervision of the District Court it should prove unwise, is as likely to be beneficial to the child in this case as is exclusive custody with the mother. I think the record before us would well justify this court in directing now that the boy be permitted to be in his father’s custody as of right during substantial periods of time. I would require this, though I would not, as would my brethren Judges Clark and Miller, award entire custody to the father.