Ireland v Smith

This is a custody dispute. Following a hearing, the circuit court ordered that the defendant father be given custody of the parties’ minor child. The Court of Appeals set aside the circuit court order and remanded the case for further proceedings before a different judge. The Court of Appeals retained jurisdiction. We approve the remand ordered by the Court of Appeals, though we modify the accompanying directions.

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In their mid-teens, plaintiff Jennifer Ireland and defendant Steven Smith conceived a child, Maranda, who was bom in 1991. The parties did not marry, but continued living with their…