Civil contempt of court refers to disobedience of an order of the court which carries quasi-criminal penalties rather than direct criminal penalties. The goal of civil contempt of court charges is to persuade the party or person subject to...
judicial administration
contempt of court, criminal
Criminal contempt of court refers to disobedience of an order of the court which carries criminal penalties. Common examples of conduct which may result in criminal contempt of court charges include insulting the judge or creating a...
contempt of court, direct
Direct contempt of court occurs when a person disobeys a court order in the presence of the court. The person is under the inherent power that the judicial officers possess to maintain respect, dignity, and order during a proceeding. Persons...
contempt of court, indirect
Indirect contempt of court is the violation of a court order outside the immediate presence of the court. Indirect contempt can either be civil or criminal and is also known as constructive contempt of court.
Common reasons...
contest
Contest means to defend against an adverse claim made in a court by a plaintiff or a prosecutor; to challenge a position asserted in a judicial proceeding. For instance, a disgruntled relative may formally contest the probate of a will....
contumacy
Contumacy refers to a person’s refusal to appear in court when they have been legally summoned or their refusal to follow a court order. This refusal can lead to the judge finding the individual in contempt of the court.
In...
costs
Costs are the fees incurred for the use of a court and are seen in civil and criminal courts of all levels. Court costs usually include the initial filing fee, fees for serving the summons, complaint, and subpoenas, and fees to pay for the...
counsel
To counsel is to provide legal advice or guidance to someone on specific subject matter. Counsel is also a lawyer giving advice about a legal matter and representing clients in court.
See also: Counselor and Attorney
...court
A court is any official tribunal presided over by one or several judges in which legal issues and claims are heard and determined. The U.S. system is composed of federal courts and state courts. Article III, Section I of the U.S. Constitution...
court calendar
The court calendar lists the cases to be heard during a scheduled session of court. It is the calendar in the courthouse which lists the cases and hearings to be held by a court on a particular day, week or month. It is also called a docket,...