The state’s interest is to have somebody - anybody - on the hook for support of the child rather than have to be the one to provide it.
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Exactly. A government for and by the government....
Courts rule on a “situational” basis. And any number of factors can come into play to influence a judge’s ruling. In more cases than anyone would like to admit, a judge will hand down an adverse ruling against a person because that judge knows that the person affected does not have the financial means to appeal it. All of which makes rulings at law arbitrary, capricious and unpredictable. “Respect for the law” is increasingly difficult as a result. The result in this case seems to be just and fair, but no one should think that the very same judge would rule the same way if, for example, there were no other man present and available to take responsibility.