Contempt

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WI Court of Appeals – District I

Case Name: Marika Erin McGhee Jones v. Charles Evans Jones, Jr.

Case No.: 2021AP000579

Officials: Brash, C.J., Dugan and White, JJ.

Focus: Contempt

Marika Erin McGhee Jones, n/k/a Marika Edwards (hereinafter “Edwards”), pro se, appeals an order of the circuit court dismissing her motion for contempt. Specifically, Edwards argues that the circuit court erred in concluding that it could not hold her former husband, Charles Evans Jones, Jr., in contempt for failing to pay a portion of health insurance premiums for their minor child. Edwards also seeks to appeal an earlier order of the circuit court dismissing the parties’ remaining motions for lack of jurisdiction. First, the appeals court concludes that it only has appellate jurisdiction over Edwards’ challenge to the circuit court’s order regarding Edwards’ motion for contempt. Second, because the appeals court concludes that Judge Stark erroneously exercised her discretion by relying on Judge Rosa’s written order, rather than his oral order regarding the health insurance premiums, the appeals court reverses the circuit court’s dismissal of Edwards’ motion for contempt regarding insurance premiums and remands for further proceedings.

Reversed and remanded

Decided 07/11/23

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