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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66542</law_id><section_number>16.1-69.24</section_number><catch_line>Contempt of court</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-278.16</reference><reference>16.1-292</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="16.1">Courts Not of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="4.1">District Courts</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Districts; District Courts and Judges</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of a district <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall have the same powers and <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> as a <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> to punish summarily for <span class="dictionary">contempt</span>, but in no case shall the fine exceed $250 and imprisonment exceed 10 days for the same <span class="dictionary">contempt</span>. From any such fine or sentence, there shall be an <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> of right within the period prescribed in this title and to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">courts</span> designated therein for <span class="dictionary">appeals</span> in other cases, and the proceedings on such <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> shall conform in all respects to the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Cases in which courts and judges may punish summarily for contempt" href="/18.2-456/">18.2-456</a> through <a class="law" title="Appeal from sentence of such judge" href="/18.2-459/">18.2-459</a>. <a id="paragraph-241488" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-69.24/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any person charged with a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, or released on a <span class="dictionary">summons</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Issuance of summons instead of warrant in certain cases" href="/19.2-73/">19.2-73</a> or <a class="law" title="Issuance and service of summons in place of warrant in misdemeanor case; issuance of summons by special conservators of the peace" href="/19.2-74/">19.2-74</a> who fails to appear before any <span class="dictionary">court</span> or judicial officer as required shall not be punished for <span class="dictionary">contempt</span> under this provision but may be punished for such <span class="dictionary">contempt</span> under subdivision A 6 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Cases in which courts and judges may punish summarily for contempt" href="/18.2-456/">18.2-456</a>. <a id="paragraph-241489" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-69.24/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1972, c. 708; 1973, c. 546; 2000, cc. 164, 185; 2019, c. 708.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
