21.   Lawton had originally awarded custody to the father.

22.   Several lawyers who follow gay rights issues said that judges often award custody to one birth parent if the other is a homosexual.

23.   The court awarded custody to her biological father, whose girlfriend at first had said another man had fathered her.

24.   The court awards custody of Nathan to an uncle, who beats him.

25.   Three years ago, Catherine Thomas fled with the girl after Kevin Thomas was awarded custody.

26.   Twenty years ago, mothers were almost always awarded custody of young children.

27.   While judges will still have the power to award sole custody to one parent, advocates for mothers and children fear the new law will be abused.

28.   While a U.S. court order has awarded Roush custody of girls, they are considered by the Saudi Arabian government to be Saudi citizens.

29.   While immigration lawyers said that surviving parents are normally awarded custody of their children, this case has been complicated by the tensions surrounding U.S. relations with Cuba.

30.   Oyntzen said in a note that he had killed his children because his ex-wife, who was not with the family, had recently been awarded custody.