Court Opinion

ID: 9559684
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:33:42.136545+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:11:33.145676
License: Public Domain

RABINOWITZ, Chief Justice,
dissenting.
I would reverse the superior court’s custody modification decision. Review of the record persuades me that the superior court’s controlling factual findings are clearly erroneous and that the court abused its discretion in making its best interest child custody determination.
The core of the superior court’s custody decision is found in the following portion of its Memorandum of Decision where it is stated:
I cannot discern an adverse impact on Zachary by his mother and Mr. W.’s [Zachary’s step father] relationship with ... [Zachary’s half sister], the use of marijuana in the home, socializing in roadhouses, and the continuing dispute between the parties for which each party bears some responsibility.
Don Kessler introduced sufficient evidence demonstrating a change of circumstances justifying a redetermination of Zachary’s custody. See AS 25.20.110. Here the evidence shows that Linda left the State of Alaska with Zachary, then returned to Alaska, and has moved frequently since her return to Alaska, that Linda and her husband have engaged in drug and alcohol abuse in Zachary’s presence, and that Linda’s husband physically abused Zachary’s half sister.
Furthermore, I am of the view that the superior court improperly weighed the relevant AS 25.24.150 factors in making its best interest child custody determination. There is ample evidence that Linda failed to exercise adequate supervision over Zachary, that Linda and her husband frequently used marijuana and alcohol in Zachary’s presence, and that there was physical violence on the part of Linda’s husband against Zachary’s half sister.1

. In his report, the guardian ad litem concluded in part:
I recommend that custody of Zakary [sic] be transferred to Mr. Kessler. Zakary does not want this to occur. However, I feel that Zak is currently being raised in an environment where drug usage is permitted and alcohol is abused. His mother is actively disparaging his father and programming the child against his father. His step sister has been physically abused in that environment.