Art. 21. Direct contempt
A direct contempt of court is one committed in the immediate view and presence
of the court and of which it has personal knowledge; or, a contumacious failure to comply
with a subpoena, summons or order to appear in court, proof of service of which appears
of record; or, a contumacious failure to comply with an order sequestering a witness.
A direct contempt includes, but is not limited to, any of the following acts:
(1) Contumacious failure, after notice, to appear for arraignment or trial on the day
fixed therefor;
(2) Contumacious failure to comply with a subpoena or summons to appear in
court, proof of service of which appears of record;
(3) Contumacious violation of an order excluding, separating, or sequestering a
witness;
(4) Refusal to take the oath or affirmation as a witness, or refusal of a witness to
answer a nonincriminating question when ordered to do so by the court;
(5) Contumacious, insolent, or disorderly behavior toward the judge or an attorney
or other officer of the court, tending to interrupt or interfere with the business of the court
or to impair its dignity or respect for its authority;
(6) Breach of the peace, boisterous conduct, or violent disturbance tending to
interrupt or interfere with the business of the court or to impair its dignity or respect for
its authority;
(7) Use of insulting, abusive, or discourteous language by an attorney or other
person in open court, or in a motion, plea, brief, or other document, filed with the court,
in irrelevant criticism of another attorney or of a judge or officer of the court;
(8) Violation of a rule of the court adopted to maintain order and decorum in the
court room; or
(9) Contumacious failure to attend court as a member of a jury venire or to serve as
a juror after being accepted as such when proof of service of the subpoena appears of
record.