Fuchs v. Martin

DICKSON, Justice.

We granted transfer in this paternity case to address the power of a trial court to order mediation (a) in a manner not explicitly authorized by local court rules and (b) as a prerequisite to filing motions or otherwise seeking judicial action following the commencement of a case.

This is an appeal from the final judgment in a paternity case that was brought by the father, petitioner-appellant Jason Edward Fuchs. The trial court's detailed judgment established paternity as agreed by the parties, declared that the parties shall have joint legal custody, and assigned "primary…