sec.129Contempt

### sec.129 Contempt A person is in contempt of the District Court if the person— without lawful excuse, fails to comply with an order of the court (other than an order mentioned in paragraph (e) ), or an undertaking given to the court; or wilfully insults a judge or juror, or a registrar, bailiff, or other court officer during the person’s sitting or attendance in court, or in going to or returning from the court; or wilfully interrupts the proceedings of the court or otherwise misbehaves himself or herself in court; or unlawfully obstructs or assaults someone in attendance in court; or without lawful excuse, disobeys a lawful order or direction of the court at the hearing of any proceeding; or commits any other contempt of the court. A District Court judge has the same power to punish for a contempt mentioned in subsection (1) as a Supreme Court judge would have if the contempt were a contempt of the Supreme Court. If the contempt is in the face of the court, a bailiff or other court officer acting under the court’s order may, using necessary and reasonable help and force, take the person committing the contempt into custody and detain the person until the court rises. Before the court rises, the court may— ask the person to explain why the person should not be punished; or adjourn the matter to be dealt with on a stated date. If the court acts under subsection (4) (a) , the court may deal with the person immediately. s 129 amd 1989 No. 40 s 15 sub 1999 No. 66 s 23 (sec.129-ssec.1) A person is in contempt of the District Court if the person— without lawful excuse, fails to comply with an order of the court (other than an order mentioned in paragraph (e) ), or an undertaking given to the court; or wilfully insults a judge or juror, or a registrar, bailiff, or other court officer during the person’s sitting or attendance in court, or in going to or returning from the court; or wilfully interrupts the proceedings of the court or otherwise misbehaves himself or herself in court; or unlawfully obstructs or assaults someone in attendance in court; or without lawful excuse, disobeys a lawful order or direction of the court at the hearing of any proceeding; or commits any other contempt of the court. (sec.129-ssec.2) A District Court judge has the same power to punish for a contempt mentioned in subsection (1) as a Supreme Court judge would have if the contempt were a contempt of the Supreme Court. (sec.129-ssec.3) If the contempt is in the face of the court, a bailiff or other court officer acting under the court’s order may, using necessary and reasonable help and force, take the person committing the contempt into custody and detain the person until the court rises. (sec.129-ssec.4) Before the court rises, the court may— ask the person to explain why the person should not be punished; or adjourn the matter to be dealt with on a stated date. (sec.129-ssec.5) If the court acts under subsection (4) (a) , the court may deal with the person immediately. - (a) without lawful excuse, fails to comply with an order of the court (other than an order mentioned in paragraph (e) ), or an undertaking given to the court; or - (b) wilfully insults a judge or juror, or a registrar, bailiff, or other court officer during the person’s sitting or attendance in court, or in going to or returning from the court; or - (c) wilfully interrupts the proceedings of the court or otherwise misbehaves himself or herself in court; or - (d) unlawfully obstructs or assaults someone in attendance in court; or - (e) without lawful excuse, disobeys a lawful order or direction of the court at the hearing of any proceeding; or - (f) commits any other contempt of the court. - (a) ask the person to explain why the person should not be punished; or - (b) adjourn the matter to be dealt with on a stated date.