Court Opinion

ID: 9668441
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 02:13:55.35913+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:45.524153
License: Public Domain

VANDE WALLE, Chief Justice,
concurring in result.
I am disturbed by the majority’s move to confine a child’s preference to an original-custody proceeding as opposed to a subsequent modification, at least for purposes of change of circumstances. This rigid confinement of the preference means a young child is between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
The young child’s preference will be given little weight at an original-custody proceeding. E.g., Barstad v. Barstad, 499 N.W.2d 584 (N.D.1993). However, when the child matures to the point the courts will deign to give some weight to the child’s preference, the child will be told its too late — this is a modification proceeding not an original-custody proceeding.
A child’s preference is not controlling in any event. Barstad, supra, at 589 (Vande-Walle, C.J., dissenting); Novak v. Novak, 441 N.W.2d 656, 658 (N.D.1989) [Vande-Walle, J., concurring specially]. Therefore, even in determining whether there is a change of circumstances, I would not limit a mature child’s preference to such extreme situations as “allegations of abuse against the custodial parent, discord among members of a new step-family, or severe problems at school or in the community.” Such situations have as much to do with the child’s best interest as they do a change in circumstances and would probably constitute a change in circumstances notwithstanding the child’s preference. Nothing dictates that factors are exclusive, i.e., that a factor that affects a child’s best interest cannot also be a factor affecting a change in circumstances. Rather, the mature child’s preference should be considered by the trial court as a change in circumstances if there are persuasive reasons for that preference, persuasive enough to result in a change of custody.
Here, I agree the reasons for the preference are not persuasive enough to justify a change in custody. I concur in the result.