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Simple English definitions for legal terms
contempt of court, criminal
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A quick definition of contempt of court, criminal:
Contempt of court, criminal: When someone disobeys a court order and does something wrong during a trial, like being rude to the judge or causing a disturbance, they can be charged with criminal contempt of court. This means they may have to pay a fine or even go to jail. There are two types of criminal contempt: direct, which happens during a court proceeding, and indirect, which happens outside of the courtroom. Unlike civil contempt, which is meant to make someone follow a court order, criminal contempt is meant to punish bad behavior. People charged with criminal contempt have the same rights as other criminal defendants, like the right to a trial and to call witnesses. Even if they start following the court order later, they can still be punished for their bad behavior.
A more thorough explanation:
Criminal contempt of court is when someone disobeys an order from a court and faces criminal penalties. This can happen if someone insults the judge or causes a disturbance during a trial. The penalties for criminal contempt can include fines and even jail time.
There are two types of criminal contempt of court: direct and indirect. Direct contempt happens during a court proceeding, while indirect contempt happens when someone violates a court order outside of the courtroom.
When someone is charged with criminal contempt of court, they have the same rights as any other criminal defendant. This includes the right to a trial by jury, to examine and call witnesses, and to testify on their own behalf.
The goal of criminal contempt of court is to punish misconduct, not to force someone to comply with a court order. This means that someone can still face penalties even if they eventually comply with the order.
For example, if someone yells at the judge during a trial, they could be charged with direct criminal contempt of court. If someone violates a court order to pay child support, they could be charged with indirect criminal contempt of court.
These examples illustrate how someone can face criminal penalties for disobeying a court order or disrupting court proceedings.