Court Opinion

ID: 9528558
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:42:00.246562+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:00.455621
License: Public Domain

MATTHEWS, Justice,
concurring.
I agree with the result of today’s majority opinion. I also agree with the reasoning of the opinion except for the dictum that “Judge Carlson erred by relying on the two-year old psychological evaluations prepared for the original custody hearing.” Majority Op. at 155. In my view, those evaluations were relevant to the issues of whether there was a change of circumstances and the best interests of the children. Relevant evidence is admissible except where it is prohibited constitutionally, legislatively, or by court rule. Alaska R.Evid. 402. The majority opinion cites no constitutional or statutory provision or rule which would prohibit admission of the psychological evaluations.
If Dr. Harper was available as a witness, his former testimony could have been excluded as hearsay. Alaska R.Evid. 804(b)(1). However, this objection was not raised in the trial court or on appeal and it is, therefore, waived. Further, I do not understand the majority opinion as relying on hearsay as a basis for its conclusion that Judge Carlson erred.