Washington v. Boatman

This case consolidates two causes of actions brought under the uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act, RCW 26.21 (URESA). Both appellants had repeatedly failed to pay child support and were brought before the court on numerous occasions. After approximately 5 years of not complying with court orders, both appellants were held in contempt and were sentenced to a fixed jail term. Appellant Murray was sentenced to 60 days in jail with credit for 9 days already served while appellant Boatman was sentenced to 10 days in jail. The final written orders finding appellants in contempt did not provide a way for the appellants to purge themselves of the contempt. Both appealed and their sentences were stayed pending the appeal. Per our request, the Court of Appeals, Division Two, filed an order on November 28, 1984, transferring this case from Pierce County Superior Court directly to this court.