Ex Parte Rine

HALL, Justice.

Relator James Bryant Rine initiated this proceeding in this Court by application for writ of habeas corpus to gain relief from an order of the 40th Judicial District Court of Ellis County, Texas, committing him to jail until he purged himself of contempt of court by paying delinquent child support payments, attorney’s fees, and court costs. We have permitted relator to remain out of jail on bail pending our determination of the case.

When relator and his wife Donna Kay, now Mrs. Donna Kay Morris, were divorced in 1971, relator was ordered to pay $50.00 per month support for their…