Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 1271 – Criminal contempt; class A misdemeanor; class B misdemeanor
A person is guilty of criminal contempt when the person engages in any of the following conduct:
(1) Disorderly, contemptuous or insolent behavior, committed during the sitting of a court, in its immediate view and presence, and directly tending to interrupt its proceedings or to impair the respect due to its authority; or
(2) Breach of the peace, noise or other disturbance directly tending to interrupt a court’s proceedings; or
(3) Intentional disobedience or resistance to the process, injunction or other mandate of a court; or
(4) Contumacious refusal to be sworn as a witness in any court proceeding or, after being sworn, to answer any proper interrogatory; or
(5) Knowingly publishing a false or grossly inaccurate report of a court’s proceedings; or
(6) Intentional refusal to serve as a juror; or
(7) Intentional and unexcused failure by a juror to attend a trial at which the person has been chosen to serve as a juror; or
(8) Intentional failure to appear personally on the required date, having been released from custody, with or without bail, by court order or by other lawful authority, upon condition that the person will subsequently appear personally in connection with a criminal action or proceeding.
Attorney's Note
Under the Delaware Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,300 |
| Class B misdemeanor | up to 6 months | up to $1,150 |
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 1271
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Juror: A person who is on the jury.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
Criminal contempt is a class A misdemeanor, except for violations of paragraph (1) of this section. A violation of paragraph (1) of this section shall be a class B misdemeanor.
11 Del. C. 1953, § ?1211; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, § ?1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 130, § ?8; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § ?1;