Contempt of court
Seattle Mun. Code § 12A.16.100
in effect12A.16.100 - Contempt of court
A. A person is guilty of contempt of court when he or she intentionally:
1. engages in disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent behavior toward the judge while holding the court, tending to impair its authority, or to interrupt the due course of a trial or other judicial proceedings;
2. disobeys a lawful judgment, decree, order, or process of the court;
3. refuses as a witness to appear, be sworn, or, without lawful authority, to answer a question; or
4. refuses, without lawful authority, to produce a record, document, or other object.
B. If a complaint charging a person with contempt of court is filed by the city attorney at the request of a judge presiding in an action or proceeding to which a contempt relates, that judge shall be disqualified from presiding at the trial. If the alleged contempt involves disrespect to or criticism of a judge, that judge is disqualified from presiding at the trial unless the person charged consents to the judge presiding at the trial.
C. A person found guilty of contempt of court under this section may be punished for each separate contempt of court by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for up to 364 days, or both. (RCW 7.21.010; 7.21.040)
(Ord. 124684, § 20, 2015.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT12ACRCO_SUBTITLE_ICRCO_CH12A.16OFAGGOOR_12A.16.100COCOFetched: 11/1/2026