In re Sobin

Summary

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals affirmed a criminal contempt conviction based on violation of a civil protection order prohibiting direct or indirect contact with the defendant’s son. The court held that the evidence was sufficient to establish that the defendant willfully attempted to contact his son through a third party, his son’s attorney.

Holdings

1. The evidence was sufficient beyond a reasonable doubt to establish that Sobin willfully violated the written civil protection order by attempting to contact his son indirectly through a third party.
2. Contact with the son's attorney was not permissible because the civil protection order was written and expressly prohibited indirect contact through a third party.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the evidence was sufficient to support Sobin's criminal contempt conviction for violating the civil protection order.
2. Whether Sobin's communication with his son's attorney was permissible because it occurred in the context of separate litigation.

Disposition

affirmed