Case Name: In the Matter of Leland S. Hoyt, as Assistant Director of the Broome County Probation Department, Respondent, v. David H. Pierce, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1968-11-21
Citations: 31 A.D.2d 582
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Leland S. Hoyt, as Assistant Director of the Broome County Probation Department, Respondent, v. David H. Pierce, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 31
Pages: 582–582

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Leland S. Hoyt, as Assistant Director of the Broome County Probation Department, Respondent, v. David H. Pierce, Appellant.

Opinion:
Staley, Jr., J.
Appeal from an order of the Family Court, Broome County, entered May 2, 1968, which adjudged the appellant in contempt of court, ordered that the suspension of sentence in a prior contempt order be withdrawn, and imposed a jail sentence. The sole issue presented by appellant is whether it is " constitutionally permissible for the Family Court to imprison a person for failure to make support payments as required by the Family Court Act"; appellant contending that he "has been denied his constitutional rights in that he has been sentenced to jail for failure to pay a civil debt." The record discloses, however, that punishment was imposed solely for willful disobedience of the court's mandate. (See Fuller v. Fuller, 31 A D 2d 587.) Order affirmed, with costs. Gibson, P. J., Herlihy, Reynolds, Aulisi and Staley, Jr., JJ., concur in memorandum by Staley, Jr., J.