Opinion ID: 1256305
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Contempt Generally

Text: Neither the civil nor criminal contempt powers of the federal courts derive from statute. The power to punish for contempts is inherent in all courts; its existence is essential to the preservation of order in judicial proceedings, and to the enforcement of the judgments, orders, and writs of the courts, and consequently to the administration of justice. The moment the courts of the United States were called into existence and invested with jurisdiction over any subject, they became possessed of this power. Ex parte Robinson, 19 Wall. 505, 86 U.S. 505, 510, 22 L.Ed. 205 (1873); see Young v. United States ex rel. Vuitton et Fils S.A., 481 U.S. 787, 107 S.Ct. 2124, 95 L.Ed.2d 740 (1987). Likewise, the constitutional courts of Hawai`i possess the inherent power of contempt. Kukui Nuts of Hawai`i, Inc., 6 Haw. App. at 436, 726 P.2d at 271 (noting that the power to issue contempt sanctions is an inherent power of the trial courts to do those things necessary for the proper administration of justice); Application of Balucan, 44 Haw. 271, 353 P.2d 631 (1960) (holding that [t]he power of summary punishment for [criminal] contempt is an inherent power of a constitutional court (citing Onomea Sugar Co. v. Austin, 5 Haw. 604 (1886))). Although the power to punish for contempt is an inherent power of the courts, the legislature may establish alternative procedures and penalties that do not unduly restrict or abrogate the courts' contempt powers. See Young, 481 U.S. at 799, 107 S.Ct. 2124; Walker v. Bentley, 678 So.2d 1265, 1267 (Fla.1996) (holding that [a]ny legislative enactment that purports to do away with the inherent power of contempt directly affects a separate and distinct function of the judicial branch, and, as such, violates the separation of powers doctrine ... of the Florida Constitution); State ex rel. Lanning v. Lonsdale, 48 Wis. 348, 4 N.W. 390 (1880), reaffirmed in State v. Lehman, 137 Wis.2d 65, 403 N.W.2d 438 (1987); In the Interest of J.E.S., 817 P.2d 508 (Colo.1991) (holding that a statute that was amended to abrogate a court's power to incarcerate juveniles who act in violation of a court order was unconstitutional as violative of the separation of powers doctrine); In re Baker, 71 Ill.2d 480, 17 Ill.Dec. 676, 376 N.E.2d 1005 (1978) (holding that a court may impose incarceration for contempt in juvenile proceedings despite statute requiring a different means of enforcing a court order); cf. Balucan, 44 Haw. at 277, 353 P.2d at 635 (noting that Revised Laws of Hawai`i § 269-5 (1955), required that the circumstances of contempt be set forth in the judgment and mittimus). In distinguishing criminal from civil contempt, a court's inquiry is focused upon the character and purpose of punishment and not upon the punishment itself. Hawaii Pub. Employment Relations Bd. v. United Public Workers, Local 646, AFSCME, AFLCIO, 66 Haw. 461, 479, 667 P.2d 783, 795 (1983) (citing Shillitani v. United States, 384 U.S. 364, 369-70, 86 S.Ct. 1531, 16 L.Ed.2d 622 (1966) (quoting Gompers v. Buck's Stove & Range Co., 221 U.S. 418, 441, 31 S.Ct. 492, 55 L.Ed. 797 (1911))). In United Public Workers, this court adopted the Shillitani Court's test for distinguishing criminal contempt from civil contempt, i.e., What does the court primarily seek to accomplish by imposing sentence? 66 Haw. at 479, 667 P.2d at 795. The primary purpose of criminal contempt is to punish past defiance of a court's judicial authority, thereby vindicating the court. Shillitani, 384 U.S. at 369, 86 S.Ct. 1531. In contrast, civil contempt may be characterized as a court's desire to compel obedience to a court order, Shillitani, 384 U.S. at 370, 86 S.Ct. 1531, or to compensate the contemnor's adversary for injuries that result from noncompliance. Gompers, 221 U.S. at 448-449, 31 S.Ct. 492; see United Public Workers, 66 Haw. at 479, 667 P.2d at 795 (quoting Hawaii Pub. Employment Relations Bd. v. Hawaii State Teachers Ass'n, 55 Haw. 386, 392, 520 P.2d 422, 426-27 (1974) (citations omitted)). In other words, there are essentially two forms of civil contempt coercive and compensatory. See, e.g., United Public Workers, 66 Haw. at 479, 667 P.2d at 795. Although civil contempt is often associated with a purge provision whereby contemnors may purge themselves of a fine or sanction by complying with the court's order, a sanction or fine without a purge provision is also considered to be remedial and civil, and not punitive and criminal, if paid to the complainant and not to the court. See Poston v. Poston, 331 S.C. 106, 502 S.E.2d 86, 89 (1998); Parker v. United States, 153 F.2d 66, 70 (1st Cir.1946). A contempt adjudication is also considered to be civil in nature when the sanction is wholly remedial, serves only the purposes of the complainant, and is not intended as a deterrent to offenses against the public. McCrone v. United States, 307 U.S. 61, 64, 59 S.Ct. 685, 83 L.Ed. 1108 (1939); see Falstaff Brewing Corp. v. Miller Brewing Co., 702 F.2d 770, 778 (9th Cir.1983). The confusion between civil and criminal contempt arises as a result of civil contempt often having the incidental effect of vindicating the court's authority, while, conversely, criminal contempt may permit the movant to derive the incidental benefit of preventing future noncompliance. See Gompers, 221 U.S. at 443, 31 S.Ct. 492. However, these incidental effects do not change the primary purpose of either type of contempt. [8] Id.