Court Opinion

ID: 9514717
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:51:23.239436+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:20.382985
License: Public Domain

[¶ 34.]
GILBERTSON, Justice,
(dissenting as to Issue 2).
[¶ 35.] Father argues the trial court abused its discretion in modifying his visitation schedule as punishment for his failure to comply with previous visitation orders. I agree.
[¶ 36.] “A trial court is given broad discretion when considering matters of visitation.” Hybertson v. Hybertson, 1998 SD 83, ¶ 14, 582 N.W.2d 402, 405. Accord Weber v. Weber, 529 N.W.2d 190, 191 (S.D.1995). “ ‘However, the trial court’s exercise of discretion is not uncontrolled and must have a sound and substantial basis in the testimony.’ ” Weber, 529 N.W.2d at 191 (quoting Williams v. Williams, 425 N.W.2d 390, 393 (S.D.1988)). “The best interests of the child are to govern visitation matters, and a trial court’s order will not be set aside unless an abuse of discretion is shown.” Hybertson, 1998 SD 83 at ¶ 14, 582 N.W.2d at 405. See also Weber, 529 N.W.2d at 191 (trial court’s decision can only be reversed upon clear showing of abuse of discretion).
[¶ 37.J Here, the trial court entered the following findings and conclusions to support its modification of father’s visitation schedule:
2. That the previous Court Orders specifically [set] forth how visitation was to be handled between the parties.
3. That [father] refused to follow the previous Court Order entered [in] April 1997 regarding this visitation.
4. [Father] has also refused to grant [mother] her summer visitation which would include one full week each month during the summer. [Father] was entitled to have the children for the three weeks per month.
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6. [Father] also refused to allow [mother] to come and visit, the children on her days off during the summer while they were [not] in [father’s] care but in daycare.
7. [Mother] has done everything that she could to accommodate [father’s] visitation request and personal plans. Often times changing schedules to allow for various family plans that [father asked] to have the children for.
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2. That due to [mother’s] change in circumstances regarding her employment, as well as [father’s] refusal to *483comply [with] the previous Court Order, the Court now hereby vacates the previous visitation order and now enters a visitation schedule that requires the parties to follow the First Circuit Guidelines, a copy [of] which are attached hereto and by this reference incorporated herein.
3. That the parties shall divide the summer visitation equally.
4. That [father] may choose whether he wants the visitation to be for a consecutive period of time or divided in two blocks of time pursuant to the guidelines. [Father] must notify [mother] by May 1 of each year as to the summer visitation arrangements.
5. [Father’s] weekend visitation shall be coordinated with [mother’s] desire to have the children together at the same time as her step daughter is present. Weekend visitation shall be on an alternative weekend schedule at the times set forth with the guidelines.
[¶ 38.] These findings and conclusions clearly establish that the trial court modified father’s visitation schedule as punishment for his lack of compliance with prior visitation orders, not as an arrangement in the children’s best interests. The pertinent findings and conclusions reflect no consideration whatsoever of the children’s interests, only father’s violation of prior visitation orders and his infringement on mother’s interests. This clearly violates settled law on visitation disputes as set forth above. Accordingly, the trial court’s modification of the visitation schedule should be reversed and the matter of visitation remanded for appropriate consideration of a schedule in the children’s best interests.3
[¶ 39.] AMUNDSON, Justice, joins this dissent as to Issue 2.

. While the majority ably reviews the record, describing various instances where father failed to honor mother’s visitation rights, it identifies not a single finding or conclusion establishing the trial court’s consideration of the children’s best interests with regard to visitation. It is fundamental that it is not the function of this court to sift through a cold record and pick and choose evidence supportive of the position of one party or the other. Rather, we examine the trial court's findings of fact to ascertain whether they support its conclusions of law and ultimate judgment or determination. See E.H. v. M.H., 512 N.W.2d 148, 151 (S.D.1994)(findings of fact must support conclusions of law and judgment). See also State ex rel. Steffen v. Peterson, 2000 SD 39, ¶ 26, 607 N.W.2d 262, 271 (Supreme Court’s review is limited to written findings and conclusions and we ignore the trial court's oral pronouncements). Here, the trial court's findings fail to support its conclusions and judgment. While the trial court’s findings and conclusions might accurately detail father’s violation of certain visitation requirements, they fail to contain the essential component of consideration of the children’s best interests. Thus, this matter should be reversed and remanded so that visitation may appropriately be considered from the children’s point of view and not solely on the basis of the actions of father. Father’s violation of mother’s visitation rights is statutorily punishable as contempt (See SDCL ch. 25-4A) and should not be summarily met with a reduction in his own visitation rights that might not be in the children’s best interests.