Court Opinion

ID: 9683355
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 13:27:12.244079+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:47.327968
License: Public Domain

SABERS, Justice
(concurring specially).
[¶ 30.] A child, brought into this world through no action of her own, clearly has the right to be supported by a parent. The South Dakota Legislature has so provided in many ways on many occasions. See e.g. SDCL 25-5-18.1 (parents of a child are under a legal duty to support the child until the child is eighteen or until child turns nineteen if he or she is a full-time student in a secondary school); SDCL 25-7-6.1 (parents jointly and severally obligated for necessary maintenance, education and support of the child); SDCL 25-7-7.1 (duty of support continues if child is placed with DSS for custody, guardianship or care and placement); SDCL 25-7-8 (stepparent is liable for support and maintenance of child, but that liability does not absolve the natural or adoptive parent of support obligation); SDCL 25-7-10 (third person supplying necessaries for a child may recover for the reasonable value thereof from the parent); SDCL 25-7-16 *593(nonsupport of child by parent is a misdemeanor; felony where parent leaves the state). The constitutions prohibit the denial of life, liberty or property without due process of law.
[¶ 31.] The South Dakota Legislature has expressly provided to all minors the right to sue to establish their rights throughout their minority and, if they are attending school, until their 19th birthday. See SDCL 26-1-1; SC: 26-1-3; SDCL 25-5-18.1. These rights include the right to be supported by one’s parent. Given our constitutions, it is highly questionable whether the Legislature could take away these rights even assuming that was their intention. Obviously, there is no such intent expressed in Chapter 25-8.
[¶ 32.] Therefore, I concur specially in the writing of Justice Konenkamp.