Case Name: STATE of Missouri ex rel. Theodore HEFLIN, Petitioner, v. Charles MEGERMAN, Respondent, and Honorable Anthony J. Romano, Intervenor
Court: Missouri Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1996-05-21
Citations: 924 S.W.2d 547
Docket Number: No. WD 51030
Parties: STATE of Missouri ex rel. Theodore HEFLIN, Petitioner, v. Charles MEGERMAN, Respondent, and Honorable Anthony J. Romano, Intervenor.
Judges: Before BRECKENRIDGE, P.J., and LOWENSTEIN and ELLIS, JJ.
Reporter: South Western Reporter Second Series
Volume: 924
Pages: 547–547

Head Matter:
STATE of Missouri ex rel. Theodore HEFLIN, Petitioner, v. Charles MEGERMAN, Respondent, and Honorable Anthony J. Romano, Intervenor.
No. WD 51030.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.
May 21, 1996.
Motion for Rehearing and/or Transfer to Supreme Court Denied July 2, 1996.
Kathleen A. Hauser, City Attorney, Lucille R. Myles, Assistant City Attorney, Kansas City, for petitioner.
William H. Sanders, Sr., Alan V. Hallquist, Scott W. Martin, Blackwell, Sanders, Mathe-ny, Weary & Lombardi, Kansas City, for respondent.
Before BRECKENRIDGE, P.J., and LOWENSTEIN and ELLIS, JJ.

Opinion:
BRECKENRIDGE, Presiding Judge.
Theodore Heflin filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, challenging his commitment to jail upon an order of criminal contempt issued by intervenor, the Honorable Anthony J. Romano, Associate Circuit Judge of Jackson County. Mr. Heflin contends that Judge Romano erred by finding him to be in criminal contempt for violating orders which were beyond the jurisdiction of the court which issued them, since Mr. Heflin could not be held in contempt for violating void orders. Mr. Heflin also contends that the underlying orders were issued in violation of the separation of powers doctrine, and that the order of criminal contempt was erroneous because he received defective notice of the underlying show cause hearing, and because there was no evidence of willfulness or contumacy on his part.
In a companion case, State ex rel. Mohart v. Romano, 924 S.W.2d 587 (Mo.App.W.D.1996), this court ruled that a similar order of contempt issued against Mr. Heflin's supervisor was void because it was based upon the violation of underlying orders which were themselves coram non judice and void. That case is controlling here.
Accordingly, the petition for writ of habeas corpus is granted, and Mr. Heflin is ordered discharged.
All concur.