Court Opinion

ID: 9580133
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:02:11.456376+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:36:03.570468
License: Public Domain

SANDSTROM, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
North Dakota law provides: “Between the mother and father, whether natural or adoptive, there is no presumption as to who will better promote the best interests and welfare of the child.” N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.1. See also, N.D.C.C. §§ 14-09-04 and 14-09-06.
Given the testimony presented at the modification hearing, I am convinced that if the gender of the parties had been reversed, the result would have been the opposite. The majority mischaracterizes the evidence; it was the judge, not Roland, who introduced the concept of things “that might best be done by a woman.” Roland testified he received help from his mother in learning to care for the child. In response to a question about toilet training, Roland testified:
“I did that before [Patty] went to Colorado.
* ¾: * ⅜ * ⅜
“I guess I started early last spring, we kind of worked with her. My mom helped me because my mom has raised kids before. So got a lot of help from my mom.”
In response to a question about fixing the child’s hair every morning, Roland testified:
“Um, I normally just pull it back and put it in a pony tail. I haven’t gotten to the point where I can learn how to braid. So I have my mother assist me in helping her getting her hair braided. And I comb it. I wash it. And I generally just kind of put it in a pony tail.”
The court, on the other hand, specifically assumed because Roland is. a man, some tasks of child rearing would be inappropriate for him.
“THE COURT: In the event Rollie were the primary custodian, and in the event there was certain things in Amy’s *692training that might best be done by a woman, would it be your anticipation that you would be that teacher?
“THE WITNESS: No, Rollie is the teacher. And I just help him.
' “THE COURT: Getting back to my question, in the event there are certain things that a girl should learn that is easiest to learn from a woman, would you be anticipating that you would be that woman?
“THE WITNESS: Yes.”
I would reverse.