Court Opinion

ID: 9734408
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 17:34:05.706534+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:48.455381
License: Public Domain

ERICKSTAD, Chief Justice,
concurring in the result.
I concur in the result reached by the majority opinion, however I do so somewhat reluctantly.
This court has long recognized that, as a general proposition, “it is not in the best interests of a child to unnecessarily change custody and bandy the child back and forth between parents.” Ludwig v. Burchill, 481 N.W.2d 464, 465 (N.D.1992); Lapp v. *613Lapp, 293 N.W.2d 121, 128 (N.D.1980). With this in mind, we have said that before a change of custody is warranted, there must be a significant change of circumstances which weighs against the child’s best interests. Ludwig, 481 N.W.2d 464. Thus, as the majority opinion notes, our cases reflect a preference for maintaining the custodial status quo.
However, my concern with the majority opinion is that it has over emphasized the importance we have previously accorded the continuity of the custodial parent child relationship. See generally Von Bank v. Von Bank, 443 N.W.2d 618 (N.D.1989). There is no doubt that preserving the continuity of the custodial parent child relationship is an important factor to be considered in child custody determinations. However, this concern should not weigh so heavily that a deep and meaningful inquiry as to the child’s best interests is forestalled under the guise of preserving the continuity of the custodial parent child relationship.
In this case, the trial court was not convincing in its findings regarding what specific circumstances warranted a change of custody. The trial court discounted allegations of past sexual abuse on the part of Cindy’s new husband Jim Blotske. Regarding testimony from Cindy’s two sisters and her daughters to the effect that Cindy had been neglectful in her parental responsibilities, the trial court noted that the allegations appeared to be “reasonably accurate or at least were.” The trial court noted that “[wjhile the evidence demonstrates [Cindy] has the ability [to carry out her parental responsibilities], it is less persuasive on the question of her disposition.” The trial court also noted that “Jessica loves her mother but evidence regarding the mother’s love and emotional ties to Jessica is sparse, at best.” However, the trial court went on to find that “Jessica is a normal, healthy, happy, six year-old child who loves her mother and who gets along well in school” and that “there is no substantial direct evidence that the mother is not presently carrying out her parental responsibilities in an appropriate manner.”
Had the trial court been less ambivalent in its findings and recognizing that the trial court is much better position to weigh and judge the credibility of witnesses, I would have voted to affirm.