State ex rel. Brown v. Brown

Husband appeals from a judgment holding him in contempt for his wilful failure to pay child support. We reverse, because the trial court refused to hear his evidence.

Husband appeared pro se at the contempt hearing.1 Wife called husband and herself as witnesses. After both had testified, wife rested her case. Without inquiring whether husband had any evidence to present, the trial court asked questions of wife’s attorney regarding the procedural background of the case and wife’s legal theories and allowed wife’s attorney to argue the case. After wife’s attorney had made his argument, the…