Two classes of contempts

20-1201. Two classes of contempts. That contempts of court are divided into two classes, direct and indirect, and shall be proceeded against only as hereinafter prescribed. History: L. 1897, ch. 106, § 1; May 8; R.S. 1923, 20-1201. Law Review and Bar Journal References: Survey of Recent Cases, 46 K.L.R. 911 (1998). "Advocacy, Justice, and Prosecutorial Misconduct: The Death of the Prosecutor's Reasonable Inference on Credibility Issues," Rebecca L. Farrell, 41 W.L.J. 299, 322 (2002). Attorney General's Opinions: Aid to indigent defendants; recoupment by the state of funds dispersed. 81-174. Municipal court judge can order attorney to represent indigent defendant where incarceration is likely; may punish for direct contempt but not indirect contempt. 2002-37. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Judges at chambers deprived of power to punish for contempt. In re Barnhouse, 60 Kan. 849, 851, 58 P. 480. 2. What constitutes direct and indirect contempt. The State v. Anders, 64 Kan. 742, 745, 68 P. 668. 3. Act held valid. The State v. Johnson, 78 Kan. 615, 97 P. 790. 4. Contempt proceeding for violation of liquor nuisance injunction is criminal proceeding. State, ex rel., v. Miller, 147 Kan. 242, 244, 75 P.2d 239. 5. Mentioned; persons cited for direct contempt may be summarily punished. In re Ferris, 175 Kan. 704, 714, 267 P.2d 190. Reversed: Courtney v. Schroeder, 348 U.S. 933, 75 S. Ct. 355, 99 L. Ed. 732. 6. Mentioned; civil and criminal contempt distinguished and defined. Hendrix v. Consolidated Van Lines, Inc., 176 Kan. 101, 109, 269 P.2d 435. 7. Indirect contempt not reviewable as specification of error in criminal action. State v. Eldridge, 197 Kan. 694, 703, 421 P.2d 170. 8. Violation of assurance of discontinuance filed and approved by court pursuant to K.S.A. 50-610 not punishable for contempt. State v. McPherson, 208 Kan. 511, 517, 493 P.2d 228. 9. Service hereunder must be followed; provisions of Chapter 60 do not apply. Pork Motel, Corp. v. Kansas Dept. of Health & Environment, 234 Kan. 374, 390, 673 P.2d 1126 (1983). 10. Contempt of court proper for failing to appear at probation revocation proceeding; aggravated failure to appear (K.S.A. 21-3814) cannot be charged. State v. Miller, 15 Kan. App. 2d 566, 572, 811 P.2d 1256 (1991). 11. Cited; whether court's failure to specify conduct constituting contempt renders conviction void examined. State v. Flannagan, 19 Kan. App. 2d 528, 532, 873 P.2d 195 (1994). 12. District court does not have authority to punish attorney who is tardy or absent from scheduled proceeding independent of section. State v. Jenkins, 263 Kan. 351, 352, 950 P.2d 1338 (1997). 13. Contemner's appeal from order finding her in indirect civil contempt for violation of order prohibiting unsupervised contact with children not rendered moot by court's termination of parental rights. In re J.T.R., 47 Kan. App. 2d 91, 271 P.3d 1262 (2012). Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archived School Finance Documents USEFUL LINKS Session Laws Kansas Administrative Regulations OTHER LEGISLATIVE SITES Kansas Legislature Administrative Services Division of Post Audit Research Department Contact Us PDF Help www.ksrevisor.gov 2026