Opinion ID: 2498046
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The propriety of the Talladega Circuit Court's finding of contempt

Text: Forney argues that the Talladega Circuit Court erred by finding him in contempt of its September 28, 2009, consent order; however, Forney may not seek relief from a finding of contempt by a petition for writ of mandamus. See Ex parte Boykin, 656 So.2d 821 (Ala.Civ.App.1994), in which the Court of Civil Appeals stated: A review of a judgment of contempt is now by appeal. Stack v. Stack, 646 So.2d 51 (Ala.Civ.App.1994). `It is now a well-established general rule in this state that if the matters complained of can ultimately be presented by appeal, a writ of mandamus will not be issued.' Ex parte Spears, 621 So.2d 1255, 1256 (Ala.1993) (citation omitted). However, our supreme court `has recognized certain exceptions to this general rule in specific cases where appeals are not considered to be adequate to prevent undue injury.' Spears, 621 So.2d at 1256. These exceptions include: the enforcement of a trial court's compliance with an Alabama Supreme Court mandate; a review of discovery rulings; to enforce a statutory or constitutional right to a jury trial; and to vacate certain interlocutory rulings in divorce cases. Spears.  656 So.2d at 827-28 (footnote omitted); see Rule 70A(g), Ala. R. Civ. P. (providing that an adjudication of contempt is reviewable by either an appeal or, in certain circumstances, the writ of habeas corpus). In his reply brief in case no. 1090179, Forney contends that, if this Court determines that the finding of contempt is reviewable by appeal rather than by petition for writ of mandamus, this Court should treat his mandamus petition as an appeal for the purpose of considering the propriety of the contempt finding; however, jurisdiction to review a finding of contempt arising from a domestic-relations case lies not with this Court but, instead, with the Court of Civil Appeals. See K.S.C.C. v. W.H.C., 857 So.2d 830, 835 (Ala.Civ.App.2002) (The Court of Civil Appeals has jurisdiction to hear an appeal from a finding of contemptcriminal or civilif the finding of contempt arises out of a domestic-relations case. (citing Tetter v. State, 358 So.2d 1046 (Ala.1978); Rule 70A, Ala. R. Civ. P.)); Shonkwiler v. Kriska, 780 So.2d 703, 705 (Ala.Civ.App.2000) (same). [6]