Henley v. Iowa District Court for Emmet County

NEUMAN, Justice.

This is an original certiorari action brought by Sheral Henley, a victim of domestic violence. Henley comes before this court, however, not as a victim but as a contemnor charged with aiding and abetting the violation of the very order issued to protect her. She claims the court was without authority to cite or punish her for contempt. We annul the writ.

The record reveals that Henley has suffered vicious abuse at the hands of Raul Medrano, a man with whom she lived in Estherville, Iowa. In August 1993, Medrano was convicted of domestic assault in violation of Iowa Code section…