Opinion ID: 1996929
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The 2007 Incarceration Show Cause Order

Text: Rule 15-206, entitled Constructive civil contempt, governs the service of process in constructive civil contempt proceedings to enforce a child support order. The Rule provided in 2007, in pertinent part: (a) Where filed. A proceeding for constructive civil contempt shall be included in the action in which the alleged contempt occurred. (b) Who may initiate. (1) The court may initiate a proceeding for constructive civil contempt by filing an order complying with the requirements of section (c) of this Rule. (2) Any party to an action in which an alleged contempt occurred and, upon request by the court, the Attorney General, may initiate a proceeding for constructive civil contempt by filing a petition with the court against which the contempt was allegedly committed. (3) In a support enforcement action where the alleged contempt is based on failure to pay spousal or child support, any agency authorized by law may bring the proceeding. (c) Content of order or petition. (1) An order filed by the court pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this Rule and a petition filed pursuant to subsection (b)(2) shall comply with Rule 2-303 and shall expressly state whether or not incarceration is sought. (2) Unless the court finds that a petition is frivolous on its face, the court shall enter an order providing for (i) a prehearing conference, or (ii) a hearing, or (iii) both. The scheduled hearing date shall allow a reasonable time for preparation of a defense and may not be less than 20 days after the prehearing conference. An order issued on a petition or on the court's own initiative shall state: (A) the time within which any answer by the alleged contemnor shall be filed, which, absent good cause, may not be less that ten days after service of the order; (B) the time and place at which the alleged contemnor shall appear in person for (i) a prehearing conference, or (ii) a hearing, or (iii) both, and if a hearing is scheduled, whether it is before a master pursuant to Rule 9-208(a)(1)(G) or before a judge; and (C) if incarceration to compel compliance with the court's order is sought, a notice to the alleged contemnor in the following form:    (d) Service of order. The order, together with a copy of any petition and other document filed in support of the allegation of contempt, shall be served on the alleged contemnor pursuant to Rule 2-121 or 3-121 or, if the alleged contemnor has appeared as a party in the action in which the contempt is charged, in the manner prescribed by the court.    Rule 15-206 (2007) (emphasis added). [9] As noted supra, absent service in accordance with the Rule, a circuit court lacks personal jurisdiction over a defendant and may not proceed to adjudicate the contempt petition. At Flanagan's January 2007 bail hearing (which occurred solely because he was in custody as the result of the improperly issued paternity contempt warrant), he was served with an Incarceration Show Cause Order. The record suggests, and Flanagan maintains, however, that the original petition for contempt from 1995 was not included in that service. Rule 15-206 requires that, when serving an individual alleged to be in constructive civil contempt, the alleged contemnor must be provided with the order, together with a copy of any petition for contempt. In the present case, the record does not reflect that Flanagan was served with the petition for contempt in conjunction with service of the Incarceration Show Cause Order. Service of the Incarceration Show Cause Order alone in 2007 was insufficient, under Rule 15-206(d), to provide the Circuit Court with personal jurisdiction over Flanagan in order to adjudicate whether he was in contempt of the 1987 child support order.