Court Opinion

ID: 9541689
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:27:52.977739+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:04:29.237447
License: Public Domain

Dolliver, J.
(concurring) — While I concur, it is difficult *249to believe defendant was confused or misinformed to the slightest degree as to whether he had a "lawful excuse" in his failure to support his minor children. Nonetheless, the analysis of the majority as to the current views of the court of the phrase "lawful excuse" is accurate. It is ironic, however, that the very language "without lawful excuse", which has acted as a shield to protect a parent from the harshness of the statute, see State v. Bauer, 92 Wn.2d 162, 595 P.2d 544 (1979); State v. Ozanne, 75 Wn.2d 546, 452 P.2d 745 (1969); State v. Russell, 73 Wn.2d 903, 442 P.2d 988 (1968), is now used by defendant as a sword to impugn its constitutionality.
Dimmick, J., concurs with Dolliver, J.