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Judge clarifies holiday, school-break and sports rules in extended custody hearing
Summary
In a lengthy family-court session, the judge clarified holiday and 'school in session' definitions, ordered conduct rules for sporting events, encouraged use of a court-approved communications app and set a schedule for further review and hearings including a May 13 date for contested custody matters.
The judge spent an extended portion of the docket addressing a contested custody and parenting-time dispute, issuing clarifications and practical directions about holiday exchanges, school breaks, summer visitation and on-site conduct at youth sporting events.
On timing, the court explained that "not in session" means a day when students are not required to attend (for example teacher workdays), and that a parent should return a child to school at 8 a.m. the next school day when applicable. The judge also proposed that Christmas exchanges be made midday so both parents have time on the holiday and specified a 6 p.m. handoff the day before school resumes.
Regarding conduct at extracurricular events, the judge warned both sides to avoid standing in doorways or moving around during exchanges, saying the court would take action if noncompliance continued: "If it does happen again, we'll take some action on it." The judge instructed parents to use a court-approved communications app for child-centered messages and discouraged messaging the child through the app.
The court addressed holiday precedence and spring-break conflicts (ruling that spring break generally takes precedence over Easter in years where they collide) and urged the parties to exchange a proposed agreed order to formalize the negotiated terms. The judge also discussed appointment of a guardian ad litem in a separate medically fragile-child custody matter and set a May 13 hearing at 9 a.m. central for certain contested custody matters, asking counsel to exchange witness and exhibit lists in advance.
