Hunnicutt v. Smith

Grice, Justice.

What happened here is another tragic sequence, of emotional immaturity, impulsiveness, early marriage, childbirth, divorce, and strife for custody of an insecure child.

The issue for us is whether the evidence authorized the trial judge to find that there had been new and material changes in conditions and circumstances substantially affecting the welfare of the child since the prior decree awarding custody to the father.

This issue arises from the rendition of judgment in favor of the mother, Winona Carol Hunnicutt Smith, in her habeas corpus proceeding against the father, her…