                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

CASES IN WHICH COURTS AND JUDGES MAY PUNISH SUMMARILY FOR CONTEMPT (§ 18.2-456)

A. The courts and judges may issue attachments for contempt, and punish them
summarily, only in the following cases:

   1. Misbehavior in the presence of the court, or so near thereto as to obstruct
   or interrupt the administration of justice;

   2. Violence, or threats of violence, to a judge or officer of the court, or to
   a juror, witness, or party going to, attending, or returning from the court,
   for or in respect of any act or proceeding had, or to be had, in such court;

   3. Vile, contemptuous, or insulting language addressed to or published of a
   judge for or in respect of any act or proceeding had, or to be had, in such
   court, or like language used in his presence and intended for his hearing for
   or in respect of such act or proceeding;

   4. Misbehavior of an officer of the court in his official character;

   5. Disobedience or resistance of an officer of the court, juror, witness, or
   other person to any lawful process, judgment, decree, or order of the court;
   and

   6. Willful failure to appear before any court or judicial officer as required
   after having been charged with a felony offense or misdemeanor offense or
   released on a summons pursuant to &#xA7; 19.2-73 or 19.2-74.

B. The judge shall indicate, in writing, under which subdivision in subsection A
a person is being charged and punished for contempt.

C. Nothing in subdivision A 6 shall be construed to prohibit prosecution under
&#xA7; 19.2-128. The provisions of subdivision A 6 shall not apply to any person
who is (i) incarcerated in any correctional facility or (ii) (a) detained in any
state or federal facility or (b) in the custody of a law-enforcement officer at
the time such person is required to appear before any court or judicial officer.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 18.1-292; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 2019, c. 708;
2024, c. 109.