Shofner v. Shofner’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

11 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 11 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Courts must strive to devise parenting plans that promote the development of the children’s relationship with both parents and interfere as little as possible with post-divorce family decision-making. Aaby v. Strange, 924 S.W.2d 623, 629 (Tenn.1996); Taylor v. Taylor, 849 S.W.2d 319, 331-32 (Tenn.1993). The needs of the children are paramount; the desires of the parents are secondary. Lentz v. Lentz, 717 S.W.2d 876, 877 (Tenn.1986). Parenting plans should never be used to punish or reward the parents for their human frailties or past mis-steps, Earls v. Earls, 42 S.W.3d 877, 885 (Tenn.Ct.App.2000); Turner v. Turner, 919 S.W.2d 340, 346 (Tenn.Ct.App. 1995); Long v. Long, 488 S.W.2d 729, 733 (Tenn.Ct.App.1972), but rather they should be used to advance the children’s best interests by placing them in an environment that best serves their physical and emotional needs. Luke v. Luke, 651 S.W.2d 219, 221 (Tenn.1983).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Katie J. Rountree v. Joshua Rountree

2. “Trial courts have broad discretion to fashion parenting plans that best serve the interests of the children. They must, however, base their decisions on the evidence presented to them and upon the proper application of the relevant principles of law. While we are reluctant to second-guess a trial court’s decisions regarding a parenting plan, we will not hesitate to do so if we conclude that the trial court’s decision is not supported by the evidence, that the trial court’s decision rests on an error of law, or that the child’s interests will be best served by another parenting arrangement.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Massey-Holt v. Holt