I'm getting my things, your Honor, to walk away from the bench. Seven days to pay. I'm finding you in direct criminal contempt of court. No, you can't. The trial court also denied contemnor's motion to reconsider the contempt finding, and contemnor appeals.
Criminal contempt is conduct that is directed against the dignity and authority of the court.
The contempt is committed in the physical presence of the judge or within an integral part of the court while the court is performing its judicial functions. Direct contempt arises from conduct that occurs in the presence of the judge. To sustain a finding of direct criminal contempt of court, it must be shown that the particular conduct was calculated to embarrass, hinder, or obstruct a court in its administration of justice, to derogate from its authority or dignity, or bring the administration of law into disrepute. In determining whether direct criminal contempt has occurred, the reviewing court may consider provocation by the trial court and erroneous trial court rulings that may have triggered the contemnor's comments. Although provocation is not a defense, the circumstances of the underlying proceedings may be weighed to determine whether the offense was proved beyond a reasonable doubt.