Schmidt v. Schmidt

Fletcher, Presiding Justice.

The primary issue in this case concerns appellate jurisdiction of orders under the Family Violence Act. We now hold that orders entered under the Family Violence Act must come by discretionary application and that jurisdiction lies in the Court of Appeals of Georgia. For reasons, of judicial economy, we address the merits and reverse the finding of contempt against Bradley Jay Schmidt because the trial court imposed criminal sanctions using a civil standard of proof.

1. Mr. Schmidt filed a direct appeal after being found in contempt of an order entered in a family…