Opinion
A23A0363
10-04-2022
NAJEE SHAREEF v. MONICA JONES
The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
Najee Shareef and Monica Jones divorced in 2016. In September 2020, Jones filed a petition for contempt, contending Shareef had failed to pay child support. The trial court entered an order finding Shareef in contempt. Shareef then filed this direct appeal. We, however, lack jurisdiction.
Appeals from "judgments or orders in divorce, alimony, and other domestic relations cases" must be made by application for discretionary appeal. See OCGA § 5-6-35 (a) (2). The underlying action - a contempt petition from a divorce decree -is a domestic relations case that requires compliance with the discretionary appeal statute. See Russo v. Manning, 252 Ga. 155, 155 (312 S.E.2d 319) (1984). "Compliance with the discretionary appeals procedure is jurisdictional." Smoak v. Dept of Human Resources, 221 Ga.App. 257, 257 (471 S.E.2d 60) (1996). Because Shareef failed to follow the requisite appellate procedure, we lack jurisdiction to consider this direct appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED.