Court Opinion

ID: 9730680
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 15:20:43.857788+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:08.543784
License: Public Domain

BROCK, J.
dissenting: As the majority points out, “we do not presume that trial judges and masters will ignore” the statutory mandate contained in RSA 458:16-17 (Supp. 1977). Given the long history of preference for child custody with the mother, however, and the virtually impossible burden of proving or disproving whether so subtle a prejudice or preference is at work, we cannot presume that they will not. Without succumbing to the temptation to characterize or pass judgment upon the lifestyle of either parent in this matter, I would hold that the master’s determination, on the evidence before him, that an award of custody to the defendant is “most conducive to [the] benefit” of the child could not reasonably be made.