Contempt

If any person in proceedings before an agency disobeys or resists any lawful order or refuses to respond to a subpoena, or refuses to take the oath or affirmation as a witness or thereafter refuses to be examined, or is guilty of misconduct during a hearing or so near the place thereof as to obstruct the proceeding, the agency shall certify the facts to the Superior Court. The Court shall thereupon issue an order directing the person to appear before the Court and show cause why he should not be punished as for contempt. The order and a copy of the certified statement shall be served on the person. Thereafter, the Court shall have jurisdiction of the matter. The same proceedings shall be had, the same penalties may be imposed, and the person charged may purge himself of the contempt in the same way as in the case of a person who has committed a contempt in the trial of a civil action before the Superior Court. SOURCE: GC § 24138 amended by P.L. 9-256.