Contempt of court is an act of disobedience, disrespect, or interference with the authority and orderly process of a court or judicial system. It includes behaviors that disrupt court proceedings, disobey court orders, or show disrespect towards the court or its officers. It can happen in the court's presence (direct contempt) or outside the court's presence (indirect contempt). There are two broad types of contempt:
- Criminal contempt: This is punitive and aims to punish misconduct such as disrupting the court, insulting the judge, or refusing to comply with court orders. It often carries penalties like fines or jail time.
- Civil contempt: This aims to compel compliance with court orders rather than punish. The penalty can often be avoided by complying with the court order.
Examples include disrupting court sessions, refusing to testify, destroying evidence, or disobeying court orders. Judges have broad discretion to hold individuals in contempt and impose punishments to maintain court authority and fairness in judicial proceedings. Both parties involved in the legal process—witnesses, defendants, lawyers, and others—can be held in contempt of court for misconduct. In summary, contempt of court serves to protect the dignity of the judicial system and ensure the administration of justice proceeds without obstruction.
