Article 3.

Contempt by Juveniles.

§ 5A-31.  Contempt by a juvenile.

(a) Each of the following, when done by an unemancipated minor who (i) is at least six years of age, (ii) is not yet 18 years of age, and (iii) has not been convicted of any crime in superior court, is contempt by a juvenile:

(1) Willful behavior committed during the sitting of a court and directly tending to interrupt its proceedings.

(2) Willful behavior committed during the sitting of a court in its immediate view and presence and directly tending to impair the respect due its authority.

(3) Willful disobedience of, resistance to, or interference with a court's lawful process, order, directive, or instruction or its execution.

(4) Willful refusal to be sworn or affirmed as a witness, or, when so sworn or affirmed, willful refusal to answer any legal and proper question when the refusal is not legally justified.

(5) Willful or grossly negligent failure to comply with schedules and practices of the court resulting in substantial interference with the business of the court.

(6) Willful refusal to testify or produce other information upon the order of a judge acting pursuant to Article 61 of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes, Granting of Immunity to Witnesses.

(7) Willful communication with a juror in an improper attempt to influence the juror's deliberations.

(8) Any other act or omission specified in another Chapter of the General Statutes as grounds for criminal contempt.

(b) Contempt by a juvenile is direct contempt by a juvenile when each of the following conditions is met:

(1) The act is committed within the sight or hearing of a presiding judicial official.

(2) The act is committed in, or in the immediate proximity to, the room where proceedings are being held before the court.

(3) The act is likely to interrupt or interfere with matters then before the court.

(c) Contempt by a juvenile that is not direct contempt by a juvenile is indirect contempt by a juvenile. (2007-168, s. 1; 2017-57, s. 16D.4(m); 2018-142, s. 23(b).)

§ 5A-32.  Direct contempt by a juvenile.

(a) A presiding judicial official may summarily impose measures in response to direct contempt by a juvenile when necessary to restore order or maintain the dignity and authority of the court and when the measures are imposed substantially contemporaneously with the contempt. Before imposing measures summarily, the judicial official shall do all of the following:

(1) Give the juvenile summary notice of the contempt allegation and a summary opportunity to respond.

(2) Appoint an attorney to represent the juvenile and allow time for the juvenile and attorney to confer.

(3) Find facts supporting the summary imposition of measures in response to contempt by a juvenile. The facts shall be established beyond a reasonable doubt.

(b) When a judicial official chooses not to proceed summarily, the official may enter an order appointing counsel for the juvenile and directing the juvenile to appear before a judge in a juvenile proceeding at a reasonable time specified in the order and show cause why the juvenile should not be held in contempt. A copy of the order shall be furnished to the juvenile and to the juvenile's attorney. If the direct contempt by a juvenile is based on acts before a judge that so involve the judge that the judge's objectivity may reasonably be questioned, the order shall be returned before a different judge presiding in juvenile court.

(c) After a determination is made pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section that a juvenile has committed direct contempt, the court may order any or all of the following:

(1) That the juvenile be detained in a juvenile detention facility for up to five days.

(2) That the juvenile perform up to 30 hours of supervised community service as arranged by a juvenile court counselor.

(3) That the juvenile be required to undergo any evaluation necessary for the court to determine the needs of the juvenile.

The court shall not impose any of these sanctions without finding first that the juvenile's act or omission was willfully contemptuous or that the act or omission was preceded by a clear warning by the court that the conduct is improper.

(d) A judicial official who finds a juvenile in direct contempt may at any time terminate or reduce a sanction of detention or eliminate or reduce the number of hours of community service ordered if warranted by the juvenile's conduct and the ends of justice.

(e) A judicial official may orally order that a juvenile the official is charging with direct contempt be taken into custody and restrained to the extent necessary to assure the juvenile's presence for summary proceedings or notice of plenary proceedings.

(f) The clerk shall place a copy of any order or other paper issued pursuant to this section in the juvenile's juvenile file, if one exists, or in a new juvenile file.

(g) Appeal from an order finding a juvenile in direct contempt is to the Court of Appeals. (2007-168, s. 1.)

§ 5A-33.  Indirect contempt by a juvenile.

Indirect contempt by a juvenile may be adjudged and sanctioned only pursuant to the procedures in Subchapter II of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes. (2007-168, s. 1.)

§ 5A-34.  When minor can be in contempt.

(a) No act or omission by a minor younger than six years of age constitutes contempt.

(b) The provisions of Article 1 and Article 2 of this Chapter apply to acts or omissions by a minor who:

(1) Repealed by Session Laws 2017-57, s.16D.4(n), effective December 1, 2019.

(2) Is married or otherwise emancipated; or

(3) Before the act or omission, was convicted in superior court of any criminal offense. (2007-168, s. 1; 2017-57, s. 16D.4(n); 2018-142, s. 23(b).)