Title 5. Of Contempts · Last amended 2012 · Last verified July 29, 2026
(a) The following acts or omissions in respect to a court of justice, or proceedings therein, are contempts of the authority of the court:
(1) Disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent behavior toward the judge while holding the court, tending to interrupt the due course of a trial or other judicial proceeding.
(2) A breach of the peace, boisterous conduct, or violent disturbance, tending to interrupt the due course of a trial or other judicial proceeding.
(3) Misbehavior in office, or other willful neglect or violation of duty by an attorney, counsel, clerk, sheriff, coroner, or other person, appointed or elected to perform a judicial or ministerial service.
(4) Abuse of the process or proceedings of the court, or falsely pretending to act under authority of an order or process of the court.
(5) Disobedience of any lawful judgment, order, or process of the court.
(6) Willful disobedience by a juror of a court admonishment related to the prohibition on any form of communication or research about the case, including all forms of electronic or wireless communication or research.
(7) Rescuing any person or property in the custody of an officer by virtue of an order or process of that court.
(8) Unlawfully detaining a witness or party to an action while going to, remaining at, or returning from the court where the action is on the calendar for trial.
(9) Any other unlawful interference with the process or proceedings of a court.
(10) Disobedience of a subpoena duly served, or refusing to be sworn or answer as a witness.
(11) When summoned as a juror in a court, neglecting to attend or serve as a juror, or improperly conversing with a party to an action to be tried at the court, or with any other person, in relation to the merits of the action, or receiving a communication from a party or other person in respect to the action, without immediately disclosing the communication to the court.
(12) Disobedience by an inferior tribunal or judicial officer of the lawful judgment, order, or process of a superior court, or proceeding in an action or special proceeding contrary to law, after the action or special proceeding is removed from the jurisdiction of the inferior tribunal or judicial officer.
(b) A speech or publication reflecting upon or concerning a court or an officer thereof shall not be treated or punished as a contempt of the court unless made in the immediate presence of the court while in session and in such a manner as to actually interfere with its proceedings.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 1211 or any other law, if an order of contempt is made affecting an attorney, his or her agent, investigator, or any person acting under the attorney's direction, in the preparation and conduct of an action or proceeding, the execution of any sentence shall be stayed pending the filing within three judicial days of a petition for extraordinary relief testing the lawfulness of the court's order, the violation of which is the basis of the contempt, except for conduct proscribed by subdivision (b) of Section 6068 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to an attorney's duty to maintain respect due to the courts and judicial officers.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 1211 or any other law, if an order of contempt is made affecting a public safety employee acting within the scope of employment for reason of the employee's failure to comply with a duly issued subpoena or subpoena duces tecum, the execution of any sentence shall be stayed pending the filing within three judicial days of a petition for extraordinary relief testing the lawfulness of the court's order, a violation of which is the basis for the contempt.
As used in this subdivision, "public safety employee" includes any peace officer, firefighter, paramedic, or any other employee of a public law enforcement agency whose duty is either to maintain official records or to analyze or present evidence for investigative or prosecutorial purposes.
Section 1209 spells out what counts as contempt of court in California -- a list that covers courtroom misbehavior (disorderly or insolent conduct toward the judge, a breach of the peace, boisterous conduct), misconduct by court officers, disobedience of a lawful order, juror misconduct including improper research or communication about a case, and interference with the court's process, such as rescuing property from an officer's custody or unlawfully detaining a witness on the way to trial. Subdivision (b) draws a free-speech line: criticism of a court or its officers isn't contempt unless it happens in the court's immediate presence while in session and disrupts the proceeding.
Two later subdivisions protect people who might otherwise face contempt for challenging an order they believe is unlawful. If a court holds an attorney (or the attorney's agent or investigator) in contempt, subdivision (c) stays the sentence for three judicial days so the attorney can file a petition for extraordinary relief testing whether the underlying order was lawful in the first place -- with a carve-out for conduct that violates an attorney's separate duty of respect toward courts and judicial officers. Subdivision (d) extends the same three-day stay to a public safety employee, such as a peace officer or firefighter, held in contempt for failing to comply with a subpoena issued in the course of official duties.
Section 1209 works together with § 1211's procedure for direct and indirect contempt and § 1218's penalties. Whether conduct falls on this list is the threshold question; how the court proves it and what it can do about it come later.
Amended by Stats 2011 ch 181 (AB 141),s 3, eff. 1/1/2012.