Teresa Bloodman v. State of Arkansas

Summary

The court held that the circuit court violated due process by imposing an unconditional punitive contempt fine without notifying Bloodman that criminal contempt was under consideration. Notice of an investigative hearing was insufficient because it did not identify criminal contempt as a possible consequence or provide notice of the specific accusation. The contempt order was therefore reversed and the case remanded. Brown, J., concurring, suggested that the circuit judge consider recusal if the matter continued.