Court Opinion

ID: 9846055
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 03:33:43.171006+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:32.041944
License: Public Domain

WYNN, Judge
dissenting.
I respectfully disagree with the majority’s determination that the trial court’s finding of unfitness is inconsistent with the conclusion of law that the father acted in a manner inconsistent with his constitutionally protected status as a parent. First, I believe a finding of fitness does not exclude a determination that the parent acted in a manner inconsistent with his constitutionally protected status as a parent. Second, the case law states disjunctively that natural parents may for*692feit their constitutionally protected status by a finding of either (1) unfitness, or (2) acting in a manner that is inconsistent with their constitutionally protected status. Petersen v. Rogers, 337 N.C. 397, 445 S.E.2d 901 (1994); Price v. Howard, 346 N.C. 68, 484 S.E.2d 528 (1997). Thus, the case law recognizes that a finding of fitness does not preclude a determination that the parent has acted inconsistent with his or her constitutionally protected status.
The Due Process Clause ensures that the government cannot unconstitutionally infringe upon a parent’s paramount right to custody solely to obtain a better result for the child. As a result, the government may take a child away from his or her natural parent only upon a showing that the parent is unfit to have custody, or where the parent’s conduct is inconsistent with his or her constitutionally protected status.
Adams v. Tessener, 354 N.C. 57, 62, 550 S.E.2d 499, 503 (2001) (emphasis supplied).
Unfitness, neglect, and abandonment clearly constitute conduct inconsistent with the protected status parents may enjoy. Other types of conduct, which must be viewed on a case-by-case basis, can also rise to this level so as to be inconsistent with the protected status of natural parents.
Price, 346 N.C. at 79, 484 S.E.2d at 534-35.
In sum, unfitness is one basis upon which it can be concluded a parent has acted inconsistently with his or her constitutionally protected status as a parent. See id. (indicating that although unfitness, neglect and abandonment clearly constitute conduct inconsistent with a natural parent’s protected status, other conduct, viewed on a case by case basis, can also rise to this level so as to be inconsistent with the protected status of natural parents). In this case, the trial court determined that although the natural father was fit, his failure to provide financial support and to maintain involvement in his child’s life constituted conduct inconsistent with his constitutionally protected status. Since the findings support this conclusion, I would uphold the trial court’s award of joint custody to the natural father and grandparents.