This case was a declaratory judgment action brought forth by Judith Chamberlain. (Anne Arundel County Maryland Circuit Court Case # 02-C-09-139690) Stephen Chamberlain's son, John, asked to attend Auburn University. Stephen agreed, Judith paid for the application fee, John was accepted and offered a four-year academic scholarship to attend. John rejected this and enrolled in Virginia Tech, a school Stephen could not afford and did not agree to. Judith filed suit asking the Court to re-write clear language in the parties' Marital Settlement Agreement so Stephen's consent was not necessary (Stephen was obligated to pay specific expenses for each child's college per a college education provision in the MSA signed by both parties: "The selection of which college or university each Child shall attend shall be made by Husband, Wife and the Child, prior to application and prior to enrollment.") The case became moot once John went forward and applied to schools without his father's consent. Nevertheless, Judge Paul F. Harris, Jr., conducted a trial on April 18, 2014 despite both parties to the case having declared in formal motions filed with the Court that the only issue before him was moot, and after it was proven to be moot by Stephen's counsel prior to the commencement of the trial. This appeal was denied by the Maryland Court of Appeals in a legally meritless opinion (see Chamberlain v. Chamberlain Maryland Court of Special Appeals Opinion #719 September Term 2014 by Judge Alexander Wright). (Judge Wright was subsequently forced to recuse himself after Stephen filed an evidence based Motion for Recusal.) The Maryland Court of Appeals declined review of this appeal and a Petition of Certiorari was filed with the United States Supreme Court (See Chamberlain v. Chamberlain SCOTUS Petition # 15-536)
This case was a declaratory judgment action brought forth by Judith Chamberlain. (Anne Arundel County Maryland Circuit Court Case # 02-C-09-139690) Stephen Chamberlain's son, John, asked to attend Auburn University. Stephen agreed, Judith paid for the application fee, John was accepted and offered a four-year academic scholarship to attend. John rejected this and enrolled in Virginia Tech, a school Stephen could not afford and did not agree to. Judith filed suit asking the Court to re-write clear language in the parties' Marital Settlement Agreement so Stephen's consent was not necessary (Stephen was obligated to pay specific expenses for each child's college per a college education provision in the MSA signed by both parties: "The selection of which college or university each Child shall attend shall be made by Husband, Wife and the Child, prior to application and prior to enrollment.") The case became moot once John went forward and applied to schools without his father's consent. Nevertheless, Judge Paul F. Harris, Jr., conducted a trial on April 18, 2014 despite both parties to the case having declared in formal motions filed with the Court that the only issue before him was moot, and after it was proven to be moot by Stephen's counsel prior to the commencement of the trial. This appeal was denied by the Maryland Court of Appeals in a legally meritless opinion (see Chamberlain v. Chamberlain Maryland Court of Special Appeals Opinion #719 September Term 2014 by Judge Alexander Wright). (Judge Wright was subsequently forced to recuse himself after Stephen filed an evidence based Motion for Recusal.) The Maryland Court of Appeals declined review of this appeal and a Petition of Certiorari was filed with the United States Supreme Court (See Chamberlain v. Chamberlain SCOTUS Petition # 15-536)
This case was a declaratory judgment action brought forth by Judith Chamberlain. (Anne Arundel County Maryland Circuit Court Case # 02-C-09-139690) Stephen Chamberlain's son, John, asked to attend Auburn University. Stephen agreed, Judith paid for the application fee, John was accepted and offered a four-year academic scholarship to attend. John rejected this and enrolled in Virginia Tech, a school Stephen could not afford and did not agree to. Judith filed suit asking the Court to re-write clear language in the parties' Marital Settlement Agreement so Stephen's consent was not necessary (Stephen was obligated to pay specific expenses for each child's college per a college education provision in the MSA signed by both parties: "The selection of which college or university each Child shall attend shall be made by Husband, Wife and the Child, prior to application and prior to enrollment.") The case became moot once John went forward and applied to schools without his father's consent. Nevertheless, Judge Paul F. Harris, Jr., conducted a trial on April 18, 2014 despite both parties to the case having declared in formal motions filed with the Court that the only issue before him was moot, and after it was proven to be moot by Stephen's counsel prior to the commencement of the trial. This appeal was denied by the Maryland Court of Appeals in a legally meritless opinion (see Chamberlain v. Chamberlain Maryland Court of Special Appeals Opinion #719 September Term 2014 by Judge Alexander Wright). (Judge Wright was subsequently forced to recuse himself after Stephen filed an evidence based Motion for Recusal.) The Maryland Court of Appeals declined review of this appeal and a Petition of Certiorari was filed with the United States Supreme Court (See Chamberlain v. Chamberlain SCOTUS Petition # 15-536)