Arkansas Department of Human Services v. Dowdy (Majority, with Dissenting)
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The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the circuit court to hold Tony Huffman, an attorney with the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), and Erika Eneks, a caseworker for the Crawford County DHS Office, in contempt, holding that the court’s decision was supported by substantial evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom.
The Supreme Court held (1) with regard to both Huffman and Eneks, the circuit court’s punishment consisted of eight hours of community service and a one-page paper, an unconditional penalty treated by the law as “criminal” contempt; (2) the conduct in question was “direct” contempt where it occurred in the presence of the circuit judge; and (3) as to both individuals, the circuit court’s decision was supported by substantial evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom.
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