Court Opinion

ID: 9756683
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 21:47:35.064143+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:28.004076
License: Public Domain

ELDRIDGE, J.,
dissenting:
While I agree with the Court that Maryland Code (1984, 2006 Repl.Vol.), § 9-102, is not facially unconstitutional, I disagree with the remainder of the Court’s opinion. While the opinion states that the Court is not principally relying on Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 120 S.Ct. 2054, 147 L.Ed.2d 49 (2000), the Court actually places a great deal of reliance on Justice O’Connor’s opinion in Troxel. That opinion, however, was not an opinion of the Supreme Court and does not appear to reflect the views of a majority of the Supreme Court. Troxel is certainly not a sufficient basis for overruling several prior opinions by this Court.
McDermott v. Dougherty, 385 Md. 320, 869 A.2d 751 (2005), on which the majority also relies, was not a visitation case, did not involve § 9-102 of the Family Law Article, and is quite distinguishable. Moreover, if I had sat in the McDermott case, I would have joined Judge Wilner’s concurring opinion.