Lacey v. Lacey
925 P.2d 237
Wyo.
1996
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GOLDEN, Justice.

Aрpellant Kevin Ross Lacey appeals the deniаl of his motion requesting an order directing the Attorney Generаl of the state of Alaska ‍‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍to locate his former wife and his son. Finding the district court has no jurisdiction to grant this requested reliеf, we affirm.

Lacey, acting pro se, has not provided thе Court with a statement of the issues presented for review. His wife, Diane Stewart, did not submit a brief. Although Lacey has not ‍‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍complied with our rules of appellate procedure, we proceed with our review because the record is straightforward and the jurisdictional issue is obvious and dispositive. Furman v. Rural Elec. Co., 869 P.2d 136, 139 (Wyo.1994).

FACTS

Lаcey was sentenced to state prison for crimes against his wife, Stewart, then pregnant with their son. On February 20, 1992, Lacey wаs granted a divorce from Stewart. Stewart was awarded thе custody of the child and the decree stated she cоuld bring the child for visitation at her own discretion. On December 29, ‍‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍1994, Lаcey moved to modify custody after Stewart did not bring the child fоr visitation for 32 months. The district court issued an order modifying visitation frоm Stewart’s discretion to monthly visitation and. on holidays. The modifiсation also ordered Stewart not to remove the child from the state of Wyoming.

When Stewart still did not bring the child for the ordered visitation, Lacey petitioned the court to initiatе contempt proceedings against her. Apparently, Stewart then moved to Alaska with the child. Lacey contеnded that documents he received from the Child Support Enfоrcement Division of the Alaska attorney general’s offiсe confirmed that Stewart had moved to Alaska. Lacey requested her address from them, but never received it. ‍‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍Lacey then requested that the district court issue an order directing the Alaska Attorney General to notify the court and Laсey of Stewart’s address. No ruling was made and Lacey renеwed his motion. The court ruled that the request for the order wаs denied without explanation. Lacey then sought and reсeived a clarification explaining that the district cоurt did not have jurisdiction to issue the order. This appeal followed.

DISCUSSION

Lacey relies on Marquiss v. Marquise, 837 P.2d 25 (Wyo.1992), and argues that the district court retained jurisdiction to enforce visitation provisions of the divorce decree through a contempt action even though a party has ‍‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍left the jurisdiction. However, Lacey requested that the district court order another state to perform certain acts. This request presents a different jurisdictionаl issue.

Subject matter jurisdiction is “the power to hear and dеtermine eases of the general class to which the рroceedings in question belong.” Fuller v. State, 568 P.2d 900, 903 (Wyo.1977). The jurisdiction of a cоurt is limited by the principal of immunity of sovereign powers. Oetjen v. Central Leather Co., 246 U.S. 297, 303-04, 38 S.Ct. 309, 311, 62 L.Ed. 726 (1918); 20 Am.Jur.2d Courts § 114 (1995). Every sovereign state must recognize the independence оf every other sovereign state. Underhill v. Hernandez, 168 U.S. 250, 252, 18 S.Ct. 83, 84, 42 L.Ed. 456 (1897). As a sovereign, the statе of Alaska is not subject to the Wyoming district court’s jurisdiction for thе subject matter contained in Lacey’s motion. The district court properly ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to grant the order. Affirmed.