Levi Deserves Joint Custody

Levi Johnston’s Playgirl spread and constant media presence may not make him the best role model in the world—but that’s no reason to deny him custody of his son. “What has Levi done that warrants sole custody for Bristol at this early moment in a child's life? Nothing is the likely answer,” writes Emily Bazelon in Slate, adding that Alaska was one of the first states to favor joint custody.

Unless one parent is truly a deadbeat, the state is likely to deny one parent’s request for full custody—like Bristol Palin’s. Sure, as Palin points out, Levi “isn't on his way to an investment-banking career. But Bristol's accusations hardly show that he's a bad father”—especially the accusation that he has substance abuse issues, which appears to be based on a fake Twitter account. For now at least, Levi deserves a chance to prove himself.
(More Levi Johnston stories.)