What is a contempt of court hearing?

A contempt of court hearing is a court proceeding in which a court orders a person to appear in order to explain why they have failed to comply with a court order. It is also referred to as a “show-cause” hearing. This type of hearing is most often used when a party fails to comply with a court-ordered action. The court then orders the person to appear before it to explain why they have not followed the court’s instructions. At the contempt of court hearing, the judge will hear testimony and review evidence to determine whether the defendant has, in fact, failed to comply with the court’s orders. If the court finds that the defendant has willfully failed to obey a court order, they may impose a contempt of court order. This order may result in penalties, such as fines, jail time, or both. In West Virginia, contempt of court proceedings generally fall under Rule 10 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure for West Virginia. According to this rule, those who are being held in contempt of court must be given notice of the hearing and must be allowed to present evidence and witnesses in their defense. Additionally, the court must give a written decision regarding whether the person is found to be in contempt, and the reasons for the decision.

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