State Ex Rel. Thompson v. Thompson

This case began when the State of Alabama (state) filed a petition for contempt for the nonpayment of child support in the Juvenile Court of Cherokee County. In its petition the state, on behalf of Vickie Thompson, alleged that Martin B. Thompson (father) was in arrears in the amount of $31,445.28 in the payment of child support. Following a hearing, the juvenile court found the father to be in contempt of court, with child support arrears amounting to over $32,000 as of the date of the hearing.

The father appealed for a de novo hearing in the circuit court. After an ore tenus proceeding, the…