Robin S. Hutchinson v. Jennie E. (Hutchinson) Cobb

[¶ 1] Robin S. Hutchinson appeals from an order of the District Court (Bridgton, Moskowitz, J.) granting Jennie E. (Hutchinson) Cobb’s motion to modify an existing divorce judgment that had awarded primary residence of the parties’ minor child to Cobb with specific rights of contact to Hutchinson. Hutchinson’s appeal requires us to decide whether a trial court may, in a civil proceeding, and in the absence of an agreement of the parties, take testimony from a child witness in chambers and off the record. We answer the question in the negative and vacate the order.

I. BACKGROUND

[¶ 2] In 2008,…