Court Opinion

ID: 9518581
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 00:56:32.152429+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:26:49.885630
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE BARRY, specially concurring: I concur with the result reached by the majority. However, I cannot agree with all of the reasoning therein. Firstly, I interpret that cohabiting on a resident, continuing conjugal basis might be a cohabitation lesser than one defined as a de facto husband and wife relationship. For example, one pursued for a more extended period of time, but wherein sex is impossible or not desired. Secondly, the legislature in no way indicated by contemporaneous testimony any intention whatsoever upon passage of section 510(b). The historical notes suggest that the third termination event, cohabiting on a resident, continuing conjugal basis is consistent with the public policy of the State of Hlinois which is to disfavor the creation of rights which enhance nonmarital relationship, citing Hewitt v. Hewitt (1979), 77 Ill. 2d 49, 394 N.E.2d 1204. I believe the public policy of this State is to disfavor nonmarital relationships whenever to do so affects the public, even indirectly. For that reason I cannot agree with the recitation by the majority “that the legislative intent behind the Act was not an attempt to control public morals.” Finally, I can find no legislative intent showing that “the concern underlying the Act was for the recipient’s need for support.” In fact, by adding the subject third terminating factor to section 510(b), in my opinion, the legislature evinced a lack of such concern, or at least a lack of such consideration.