McLaughlin v. Superior Court

Opinion

RATTIGAN, J.

Civil Code section 4607 requires prehearing mediation of child custody and visitation disputes in marital dissolution proceedings conducted pursuant to the Family Law Act. (Civ. Code, pt. 5, commencing with § 4000.) The statute also provides that, if the parties fail to agree in the mediation proceedings, the mediator “may, consistent with local court rules, render a recommendation to the court as to the custody or visitation of the child or children” involved. Pursuant to this provision, respondent superior court has adopted a “local court rule,” or policy, which (1)…