Legal Definitions - contempt of court

Contempt of court is when someone disobeys an order from a court or interferes with the administration of justice. This can include not following a court judgment or obstructing the court process. The purpose of recognizing contempt of court is to maintain the dignity of the courts and ensure justice is carried out smoothly.

Contempt of court can be classified as direct or indirect. Direct contempt is when someone knowingly disobeys a court order in the immediate view of the court, such as failing to appear in compliance with a summons. Indirect contempt is any other type of disobedience, such as failing to comply with probationary orders outside of court. Direct contempt can be punished without trial, while indirect contempt requires notice and an opportunity to be heard.

Contempt of court can also be classified as civil or criminal. Civil contempt is when the purpose of finding contempt is to coerce the person to comply with a court order, while criminal contempt is when the purpose is to punish the person for disobedience. Punishments for contempt can include imprisonment and fines, but civil contempt penalties are conditional and can be avoided by complying with the court order.

An example of direct contempt of court is when someone disrupts court proceedings by shouting or refusing to follow the judge's instructions. An example of indirect contempt of court is when someone fails to pay child support as ordered by the court. An example of civil contempt of court is when someone is fined for failing to comply with a court order to produce documents. An example of criminal contempt of court is when someone is imprisoned for refusing to testify in court.

These examples illustrate how contempt of court can take different forms and carry different punishments depending on the circumstances.