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 penalties (fines) and criminal punishment (confinement in jail).
In Kansas, contempt of court is addressed under Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) and can be categorized as either civil or criminal contempt. Civil contempt is typically used to compel someone to comply with a court order, such as paying child support or alimony, and may involve fines or other penalties until compliance is achieved. Criminal contempt, on the other hand, involves behavior that disrespects the court or obstructs the administration of justice, such as failing to appear when summoned, disrupting court proceedings, or disobeying court orders. Criminal contempt can result in fines and/or imprisonment. The specific procedures and penalties for contempt are outlined in K.S.A. 20-1204a for civil contempt and K.S.A. 20-1204 for criminal contempt. The court has broad discretion in determining what constitutes contempt and the appropriate punishment, but any imposed sanctions must align with due process requirements.