IF IT SHALL SEEM JUST AND PROPER - THE EFFECT OF RACE AND MORALS ON ALIMONY AND CHILD-SUPPORT APPEALS IN THE DISTRICT-OF-COLUMBIA, 1950-1980

This article tests the hypothesis that judicial arbitrariness dominate d alimony or child support appeals in the pre-no-fault era by analyzin g data on all alimony and child support appeals in the District of Col umbia from 1950 through 1980. Censored regression analysis is used to isolate the impacts of race and morals grounds for divorce on changes in alimony and child support awards from trial to appeal. The results show large race effects but small morals effects. Judicial discretion- measured by unexplained gaps in awards-dominated relevant economic fac tors in determining changes in alimony and child support awards during the pre-no-fault era.