Rowls v. Rowls

ERVIN, Chief Justice.

This is an appeal from two final orders of commitment for failure to comply with contempt orders. We reverse the orders, concluding that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to enter them.

In 1984, appellees Marie Rowls and Valerie Andrews each sought an order adjudging appellant in contempt of court for failure to pay child support. A joint hearing was held before Gadsden County Judge Richard L. Hood, rather than before a circuit court judge, pursuant to Administrative Order 84-7. That order, issued by then Chief Judge Ben Willis of the Second Judicial Circuit and…