Which statement best defines direct contempt?

• A. Direct contempt is an act occurring in the judge's presence and requires immediate action to quell disruption, violence, disrespect, or physical abuse.
• B. Direct contempt is an act occurring outside the court's presence, such as failure to comply with a court order.
• C. Direct contempt is willful disobedience of a court order.
• D. Direct contempt includes acts that disrupt court proceedings or bring the court into disrepute.

Answer: (A)

Direct contempt refers to acts that occur in the judge’s presence and threaten the orderly conduct of the courtroom, with the court able to respond immediately to quell disruption, violence, disrespect, or physical abuse. The key idea is the immediacy and the in-court occurrence, which gives the judge the authority to sanction on the spot to preserve the proceedings.

This is why the other descriptions aren’t as precise: acting outside the court’s presence describes indirect (or constructive) contempt, which usually involves noncompliance with a court order that occurs after the fact. Willful disobedience of a court order fits that outside-of-court scenario as well. And while disrupting proceedings or bringing the court into disrepute can happen in court, the crucial element that defines direct contempt is that it happens in the judge’s presence and demands immediate action to restore order.