Court Opinion

ID: 9709485
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 03:48:46.78004+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:49.268148
License: Public Domain

Mr. JUSTICE JONES, dissenting: Feeling that the majority opinion is an unwarranted reversal of the trial court’s exercise of discretion, I respectfully dissent. The law pertaining to the situation with which we are presented in this case is well settled and the majority cites cases that are unquestionably in the mainstream of litigation involving child custody. There are many others that could have been cited, many of which have placed children in the custody of those other than their natural parents because it was in the “best interest” of the children. This latter rule has often been applied despite the fact that the natural parents have been found fit to have custody. Examples of such cases are: People ex rel. Edwards v. Livingston, 42 Ill. 2d 201, 247 N.E.2d 417 (1969); Cebrzynski v. Cebrzynski, 63 Ill. App. 3d 66, 379 N.E.2d 713 (1978); Look v. Look, 21 Ill. App. 3d 454, 315 N.E.2d 623 (1974); Mackie v. Mackie, 88 Ill. App. 2d 61, 232 N.E.2d 184 (1967); People ex rel. Hermann v. Jenkins, 34 Ill. App. 2d 255, 180 N.E.2d 359 (1962). Two common threads interlace these and all other cases involving child custody. One is that “best interest” or “best welfare” of the child will be followed in making an award of custody and the other is that there is a broad discretion vested in the trial court and great credence is attached to its determination. My disagreement with the majority centers on what I believe is its unwarranted disregard of the trial court’s decision. It is plain to me that the majority has substituted its discretion for that of the trial court rather than confine itself to a review of that discretion. The most often-cited version of the rule which assigns great credence to the decision of the trial court is the following from Giacopelli v. Florence Crittenton Home, 16 Ill. 2d 556, 566-67, 158 N.E.2d 613, 619 (1959): “Finally, the trial judge had the best opportunity to observe the parties and their conduct and demeanor while testifying. This is a vital factor in evaluating the correctness of his determination. We should not disturb his findings unless they are palpably against the weight of the evidence.” There are many variations on this same theme, as this from the Cebrzymki case: “In custody cases great discretion must be vested in the trial court because it has the superior opportunity to evaluate the evidence and determine the best interests of the children. [Citations.] The trial court’s determination of custody rights will be reversed only if it has clearly abused its discretion or if the decision was contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence.” Cebrzynski v. Cebrzynski, 63 Ill. App. 3d 66, 74, 379 N.E.2d 713, 718-19 (1978). Seriousness beyond the ordinary is attached to this case because of the grave disability of the child in question. As the majority noted she is not a normal child, and even the plaintiff testified that she required constant care and attention. In view of this it is obviously of the greatest importance that the child have constant, watchful, dependable care. A reading of the transcript makes it obvious that the trial court carefully considered the circumstances of each party from the standpoint of which would best be able to care for this special child. His conclusion, from firsthand observation, was that the child’s best interest lay with its paternal grandparents. It has been they who have furnished thus far in the child’s life the dependable care and nurture required by her peculiar condition. The demonstrated attitude of the mother toward the child does not inspire confidence in her ability or dependability, and, of perhaps greater importance, her attitude toward her responsibility. The history of her treatment of the child and her lifestyle do not bode well for this child. The trial court undoubtedly considered all these factors in placing this child with her paternal grandparents. I see nothing in this record that would justify a reversal of the decision of the trial court.