Court Opinion

ID: 9663925
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:55:09.854519+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:59.159924
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(concurring specially).
A viper of rigidity, i.e., rigidity in the application of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, hatched in Winkelman v. Moses, 279 N.W.2d 897 (S.D.1979), now appears, through this decision, to die an ignominious death. In Winkelman, I dissented, deploring the decision of this Court, indicating at 902 thereof, the explicit language of SDCL 26-5-22; most specifically, *607this writer called attention to the word “may” in said statute — which goes on to say . may decline to exercise its jurisdiction any time before making a decree if it finds that it is an inconvenient forum to make a custody determination under the circumstances of the case and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum.” I emphasized strongly the word “may.”
Essentially, I sang the song of placing discretion in the trial courts of this state. In my dissent, I noted that “The majority opinion does not concern itself with the humanities of the case.” I mentioned that Karen (Winkelman) was of a sufficient age to form an intelligent preference. Chief Justice Miller did not serve on the Winkel-man court. Mr. Chief Justice strongly alludes to the preference of this 17 year old girl. Karen Winkelman was only 13 years of age, when she expressed her preference. At 903 Winkelman, I pointed out that the best interests of the child should prevail and that Karen Winkelman’s “best interests have been forsaken in legalism.” Again, here, I would not have the best interests of Carrie Johnson subverted by “legalism.”
In attempting to arrive at a good analysis, in futuro, in other cases, for the benefit of the best interests of the child, I commend to the reader an article dubbed INTERSTATE CUSTODY: INITIAL JURISDICTION AND CONTINUING JURISDICTION UNDER THE UCCJA, by Dr. Brigitte M. Bodenheimer, found at Family Law Quarterly, Volume XIV, Number 4, Winter, 1981, pp. 203-227. More particularly, reference is made by her to the “myth of a six month limit on continuing jurisdiction.” Dr. Bodenheimer terms it an “extreme view and a misconception.” I agree.
In Winkelman, we noted that South Dakota is divested of home state jurisdiction six months after a child leaves the state. What impact, then, does this decision have upon Winkelman? It is absolutely obvious that were we now deciding this case under Winkelman’s pronouncement, that we would reverse this case. For, here, Carrie Johnson has been gone from South Dakota for two and a half years.
As noted in the majority opinion, under SDCL 26-5A-7, the trial court may choose to decline jurisdiction based on the inconvenient forum doctrine. I wholeheartedly applaud the adoption by this Court to adopt the discretionary test. And having reviewed the evidence (by affidavit), as did the trial court, conclude that there was no abuse of discretion.
Hereby, I endorse the comments of the Chief Justice. Decisions are, also, to make some common sense. I cannot fathom why this mother would embroil this girl in controversy to the Supreme Court of this state. Frankly, it appears that ego was altered over the best interests of Carrie Johnson.
In conclusion I wish to express: There is no doubt that Minnesota is Carrie’s home state but under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, the fact that the child’s home state has changed, does not eliminate South Dakota’s jurisdiction herein.