WI · jury_instructions
Wis JI-Criminal 2031
Contempt of Court: Punitive Sanction
Statutory Definition of the Crime
Contempt of court, as defined in § 785.01(1)(b) of the Wisconsin Statutes, is
committed by one who intentionally disobeys an order of a court. 1
State's Burden of Proof
Before you may find the defendant guilty of this offense, the State must prove by
evidence which satisfies you beyond a reasonable doubt that the following three elements
were present.
Elements of the Crime That the State Must Prove
1. A court ordered the defendant to (describe terms of order). 2
2. The defendant had the ability to comply with that order. 3
3. The defendant intentionally disobeyed that court order.
"Intentionally" means that the defendant knew the court order had been
issued and acted with the purpose to disobey it. 4
Deciding About Intent and Knowledge
You cannot look into a person's mind to find intent and knowledge. Intent and
knowledge must be found, if found at all, from the defendant's acts, words, and
statements, if any, and from all the facts and circumstances in this case bearing upon
intent and knowledge.
Jury's Decision
If you are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that all three elements of this offense
have been proved, you should find the defendant guilty.
If you are not so satisfied, you must find the defendant not guilty.
History
Wis JI-Criminal 2031 (2009). Release No. 47, 5/2009. © 2009, Regents, Univ. of Wis. Prepared by the Wisconsin Criminal Jury Instructions Committee of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference with the University of Wisconsin Law School; posted by the Wisconsin State Law Library with the University's permission.
Provenance
- Source
- wilawlibrary.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-24
- Edition
- 2026-09-24
- Content hash
f093197fb3de06e2624ce238dc4f5fa067123f4d1476c009166271e06f29be55
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