Court Opinion

ID: 9773143
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 17:38:17.417027+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:50.372144
License: Public Domain

HOWELL, Justice,
dissenting.
I dissent. The trial court’s actions are transparent. It disagreed with the jury’s verdict placing this child with its mother. It therefore wrote a visitation order so broad that it has reduced the award of custody into little more than a hollow technicality. We undermine the right of trial by jury when we allow the right of visitation to overpower the right of custody, as has happened here.
This case should be reversed and modified to include a proper visitation order. See Dawson v. Garcia, 666 S.W.2d 254, 264 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1984, no writ) (court of appeals has power to render judgment which it deems should have been rendered by trial court where it appears on face of record that modification in judgment should be made and justice requires it). Alternatively, the case should be reversed and remanded with instruction that further proceedings must occur in front of another judge.