VA · jury_instructions
Va. Model Jury Instr. Crim. No. 15.100
Contempt of Court—General
The defendant is charged with contempt of court. Contempt of court is an act in disrespect of
the court or its process, or an act that tends to impede, embarrass, or obstruct the court in the
discharge of its duties. It is disobedience of any lawful command of the court, or conduct that
despises or scorns the authority, justice, or dignity of the court. The Commonwealth must prove
beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant intentionally, willfully, or recklessly acted in such a
manner as to constitute contempt.
If you find from the evidence that the Commonwealth has proved beyond a reasonable doubt
that the defendant intentionally acted in such a manner as to constitute contempt of court, then
you shall find the defendant guilty.
If you find that the Commonwealth has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the
defendant intentionally acted in such a manner as to constitute contempt of court, then you shall
find the defendant not guilty.
History
Virginia Model Jury Instructions – Criminal, Release 26, October 2025. The unannotated set, posted by the Supreme Court of Virginia at vacourts.gov; the book states that it is made available with the permission of the publisher, Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
Provenance
- Source
- vacourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-11
- Edition
- crim-2025-10-01
- Content hash
ffc397565582a5f956da6c3288921d505727f938b9de6fd7e111c963552c97ee
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