Art. 20 Contempt of court; kinds of contempt

This rule explains what "contempt of court" means. Contempt 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.

The rule breaks contempt down into two types: direct and constructive. Direct contempt happens right in front of the judge, like yelling in the courtroom or refusing to answer a question while testifying. Constructive contempt happens outside the judge's presence, such as ignoring a court order or ordering someone to do something they refuse to do later.

For anyone involved in a court case, this matters because judges have the power to punish people who disrupt court proceedings or disobey court orders. Understanding these two categories helps explain why a judge might hold someone in contempt, whether it happens during a hearing or because of something that happened outside the courtroom.