A custody battle is heating up between Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston. According to US Weekly, Bristol, the 19 year-old daughter of former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, has petitioned for sole custody over their son Tripp.
Bristol’s early November request for sole custody was made public after a Superior Court judge ruled last week against keeping the court proceedings closed. A temporary order had authorized the use of pseudonyms while the court was considering the request, which stated that no good “could result to the child by an onslaught of media.”
However, 19 year-old Levi wanted open court proceedings. “I feel more comfortable in a public courtroom which will help everyone stay civil and be on their best behavior,” he said in a statement. Well, he’s definitely comfortable with openness, considering he recently posed nude for a Playgirl photo shoot, which Bristol called “risque.” She also claims that Levi has avoided his parental responsibilities, and asked that Levi’s mother, Sherry, not be allowed unsupervised visits with Tripp following her drug arrest earlier this year.
“The best interests of the child compel the conclusion that Bristol should be awarded 100 percent legal and physical custody of Tripp, with visitation rights in favor of Levi,” Bristol’s attorney Thomas V. Van Flein said in the papers. Levi denies Bristol’s claims, and is seeking shared custody.
Bristol and Levi broke off their engagement shortly after 1-year-old Tripp was born in December 2008.
