Courts generally presume that a lawsuit has been filed in good faith, and a party moving for sanctions against the party who filed a lawsuit or claim must overcome this presumption to prove abuse of the judicial process. Thus, courts distinguish between (1) claims that are ultimately found to be merely groundless (and thus not sanctionable) and (2) claims that are ultimately found to be both groundless and brought in bad faith or for the purpose of harassment (and thus sanctionable). The sanctions rules generally do not require a party or its attorney to be right; they require the party or its attorney to make a reasonable inquiry into the facts and the laws related to the claims.

Contempt of court is broadly defined as disobedience to or disrespect of a court by acting in opposition to its authority. Contempt of court may be punished by the court with civil and criminal sanctions or penalties.

In Oklahoma, as in other jurisdictions, there is a legal presumption that lawsuits are filed in good faith. To impose sanctions for abuse of the judicial process, the moving party must demonstrate that the opposing party's lawsuit was both groundless and filed in bad faith or for the purpose of harassment. Oklahoma courts adhere to standards similar to those set forth in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which require attorneys to conduct a reasonable investigation of the facts and the law before filing claims. Merely losing a case does not subject a party or its attorney to sanctions; sanctions are reserved for conduct that involves a frivolous or harassing lawsuit. Contempt of court in Oklahoma can encompass any act that disobeys or shows disrespect for the court's authority, and it can result in civil or criminal penalties, depending on whether the contempt is classified as civil or criminal. The specific rules and procedures for sanctions and contempt are detailed in the Oklahoma statutes and court rules.