Art. 221 Kinds of contempt

Contempt of court happens when someone does something (or fails to do something) that gets in the way of a court doing its job properly. It can also happen when someone disrespects the court or undermines its authority.

There are two types of contempt: direct and constructive. Direct contempt happens right in front of the judge, like yelling in the courtroom or refusing to answer a question while on the stand. Constructive contempt happens outside the courtroom, such as ignoring a court order or failing to show up when required.

The main point of this rule is to explain that courts have the power to punish behavior that disrupts their work or disrespects their authority, whether that behavior happens in the courtroom itself or somewhere else entirely.