Bill Text: VA HB163 | 2020 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Contempt of court; penalty.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-11 - Left in Courts of Justice [HB163 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB163-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§16.1-69.24, 18.2-457, and 18.2-458 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§16.1-69.24. Contempt of court; penalty.
A. A judge of a district court shall have the same powers and
jurisdiction as a judge of a circuit court to punish summarily for contempt,
but in no case shall the fine exceed $250 and imprisonment exceed 10 30
days for the same contempt. From any such fine or sentence, there shall be an
appeal of right within the period prescribed in this title and to the court or
courts designated therein for appeals in other cases, and the proceedings on
such appeal shall conform in all respects to the provisions of §§18.2-456
through 18.2-459.
B. Any person charged with a felony offense, misdemeanor offense, or released on a summons pursuant to §19.2-73 or 19.2-74 who fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required shall not be punished for contempt under this provision but may be punished for such contempt under subdivision A 6 of §18.2-456.
§18.2-457. Fine and imprisonment by court limited unless jury impaneled.
No court shall, without a jury,
for any such contempt as is mentioned in the first class embraced in §
18.2-456, impose a fine exceeding $250 or imprison more than ten 30
days;,
but in any such case the court may, without an indictment, information, or any formal pleading,
impanel a jury to ascertain the fine or imprisonment
proper to be inflicted or a term
of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days and may give judgment
according to the verdict.
§18.2-458. Power of judge of district court to punish for contempt.
A judge of a district court shall have the same power and
jurisdiction as a judge of a circuit court to punish summarily for contempt,
but in no case shall the fine exceed $250, or the imprisonment exceed ten 30
days, for the same contempt.
