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 Montana, contempt of court is addressed under the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). Contempt of court can be either civil or criminal, depending on the nature of the contemptuous act. Civil contempt generally involves failing to comply with a court order, and the purpose of sanctions is to compel compliance. Criminal contempt involves actions that disrespect the court or obstruct the administration of justice, and the sanctions aim to punish the offender and uphold the court's authority. Penalties for contempt of court in Montana can include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the offense and whether it is civil or criminal contempt. The specific procedures and penalties are outlined in Title 3, Chapter 1, Part 5 of the MCA. Judges have considerable discretion in determining what constitutes contempt and the appropriate punishment.