Marine Mart v. Pearce

Petitioner Harry Wood, editor of the Texarkana Gazette was ordered by the respondent John W. Goodson, Miller County Circuit Judge, not to publish in the morning edition of the newspaper, published on February 17, 1972, the result of the jury verdict in the case of State of Arkansas v. Eugene Edward Sumter. As a result of the publication of the article in the morning edition of February 17th, the respondent on March 2, 1972, cited petitioner to appear and show cause on March 7, 1972, why he and the Texarkana Gazette should not be held in contempt. The citation order was served on petitioner in the State of Texas. On March 7, 1972, petitioner appeared by his counsel, but not in person, and filed motions objecting to jurisdiction of his person and the power of the court to issue the order prohibiting the publication. When petitioner appeared in person on March 8th, the respondent found petitioner in contempt of court for failure to appear in person on March 7th and also in contempt for publishing the result of the jury verdict contrary to the order of the court. The fine for