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Ex parte Robertson

Supreme Court of Alabama
Jun 11, 1982
81-583
Reporters:
Before:
Almon, Torbert, Faulkner, Embry, Beatty, Adams, Maddox, Jones, Shores

ALMON, Justice.

WRIT DENIED. 415 So.2d 1085.

TORBERT, C. J., and FAULKNER, EMBRY, BEATTY and ADAMS, JJ., concur.

MADDOX, JONES and SHORES, JJ., concur specially.

MADDOX, Justice (concurring specially).

I agree that the writ is due to be denied. Even though the trial judge did consider “the natural relationship of mother and daughter and the intimate benefits that a daughter of tender years can derive from the relationship,” I am not convinced that this Court should review the Court of Civil Appeals, especially since that court, after a review of the record, determined that the judgment of the trial court was based upon a totality of circumstances, including the sex and age of the child.

The Court of Civil Appeals found:

“While we recognize the validity of appellant‘s contention regarding the unconstitutionality of the `tender years’ presumption, we do not find that the court‘s statement concerning the mother-daughter relationship in fact constitutes an improper reliance on that doctrine.”

In view of the fact that the Court of Civil Appeals determined, after a review of the record, that the trial court did not rely upon the tender years presumption in its award of custody, I agree that the writ can be denied.

Case Details

Case Name: Ex Parte Robertson
Court Name: Supreme Court of Alabama
Date Published: Jun 11, 1982
Citations: 415 So. 2d 1089; 81-583
Docket Number: 81-583
Court Abbreviation: Ala.
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