State Ex Rel. Cochrane v. Blanco

This is a habeas corpus action by which the plaintiff, Shirley Cochrane, seeks the custody of her two children from her mother, Carmen Blanco. The two children involved in the litigation are Carmello Blanco and Nancy Gomez, now 15 and 11 years of age, respectively. The district court found for the plaintiff, awarded her the custody of both children, and the defendant grandmother appeals.

Before we proceed to a discussion of the merits of this case, a preliminary jurisdictional question raised by plaintiff on cross-appeal should be considered and disposed of. Plaintiff, in her petition, simply…