State Ex Rel. S.L. v. S.W.

The State of Alabama filed this petition for a writ of mandamus directed to Judge Ralph A. Ferguson, Jr., of the Circuit Court of Jefferson County.

On March 10, 1995, the State, on the relation of S.L., filed a child support petition against S.W. in the Juvenile Court, or Family Court, of Jefferson County. This petition asked the court to order S.W. to pay current child support and also retroactive child support. S.W. answered the petition and counterclaimed for custody of the child. The case was assigned to a referee, and on September 20, 1995, the parties met with the referee to discuss a…