Contempt of Court Bill 2017

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

A new set of rules would spell out what counts as contempt of court and how courts can deal with it. It would cover both criminal contempt, such as behaviour or publications that disrupt cases, insult the court, or interfere with judges, jurors, witnesses or parties, and civil contempt, where someone deliberately disobeys a court order. It would also set out limits on recording and publishing court proceedings, give courts stronger powers over harmful online posts, protect fair reporting and good-faith discussion of public affairs, and tighten the rules on juror misconduct. The measure matters because it would make the law clearer and give courts a modern framework for protecting the administration of justice, including online.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to codify the law on contempt of court and to provide for related matters

Last updated 13 February 2020