A recent court ruling is a legal victory for military fathers. The case involved a deployed sailor who was subject to contempt of court over his daughter’s custody.
Systems Technician (Submarines) 2nd Class (SS) Matthew Hindes obtained legal and physical custody of his four-year-old daughter after the child’s mother abused her. The mother filed for custody upon Hindes’ deployment. Hindes could not attend a hearing because he was aboard a submarine. The Judge issued an order to show cause.
Although this is a legal victory for the individual involved, this case highlights the need for a national standard for deployed parents to avoid this type of senseless and expensive legal battle. Representative Mike Turner of Ohio is leading yet another call to nationalize the laws concerning deployed military parents.