1997 Minnesota Statutes

     588.20 Criminal contempts. 

    Every person who shall commit a contempt of court, of any 
 one of the following kinds, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor: 

    (1) disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent behavior, 
 committed during the sitting of the court, in its immediate view 
 and presence, and directly tending to interrupt its proceedings, 
 or to impair the respect due to its authority; 

    (2) behavior of like character in the presence of a 
 referee, while actually engaged in a trial or hearing, pursuant 
 to an order of court, or in the presence of a jury while 
 actually sitting for the trial of a cause, or upon an inquest or 
 other proceeding authorized by law; 

    (3) breach of the peace, noise, or other disturbance 
 directly tending to interrupt the proceedings of a court, jury, 
 or referee; 

    (4) willful disobedience to the lawful process or other 
 mandate of a court; 

    (5) resistance willfully offered to its lawful process or 
 other mandate; 

    (6) contumacious and unlawful refusal to be sworn as a 
 witness, or, after being sworn, to answer any legal and proper 
 interrogatory; 

    (7) publication of a false or grossly inaccurate report of 
 its proceedings; or 

    (8) willful failure to pay court-ordered child support when 
 the obligor has the ability to pay.  

    No person shall be punished as herein provided for 
 publishing a true, full, and fair report of a trial, argument, 
 decision, or other proceeding had in court.  

    HIST: (10042) RL s 4854; 1993 c 340 s 53