Ex Parte Puckitt

This is an original proceeding in this Court in which Jeff K. Puckitt sought and was granted a writ of habeas corpus.

Pending a hearing in a divorce suit, Puckitt was ordered by the district court to make monthly payments to his wife. Upon her allegations that he was delinquent in his payments, Puckitt was called before the court. The learned trial judge found him to be in arrears and to be in contempt of court. Apparently upon the oral direction of the judge, Puckitt was put in jail by the sheriff until he purged himself of the contempt. No written order of any kind appears in the record.

This…