Ashkii v. Kayenta Family Court

OPINION

A single mother of toddler child filed a petition for an extraordinary writ against the Kayenta Family Court requesting: (1) the removal of the presiding family court judge from a paternity and child support action, and (2) an examination of the family court’s mandatory use of custody evaluators in all child custody proceedings. An alternative writ was issued and a show cause hearing was held, resulting in the issuance of a permanent writ to remove the presiding judge. As to the custody evaluation issue, this Court holds that the family court’s established practice of automatically…