View source for Contempt of Court (Offence)

{{Currency2|January|2020}}
{{LevelZero}}{{HeaderOffences}}

{{OffenceBox
|OffenceTitle=Contempt of Court 
|OffencePage=Contempt of Court 
|Section=708 
|Act={{OBCCC}} 
|CrownElection={{OBSummaryElection}} 
|Jurisdiction={{OBJurisdictionAll}}
|Bail={{OBBailAll}} 
|SummaryDisp= {{OBDispAll}} 
|SummaryMin= {{OBMinNone}} 
|SummaryMax= {{OBTime|fine or 90 days}} }}

==Overview==
{{OverviewXXII|contempt of court}}

; Pleadings
{{PleadingsHeader}}
{{PleadingsSummaryList|s. 708 {{DescrSec|708}} | {{NA}} | {{No}} }}
{{PleadingsEnd}}

{{PleadingsSummary|s. 708 {{DescrSec|708}}}}

; Release
{{ReleaseHeader}}
|s. 708 {{DescrSec|708}}  || {{ReleaseProfile-Summary}} 
|-
{{ReleaseEnd}}

{{ReleaseOptions-Hybrid|s. 708 {{DescrSec|708}}}}

; Publication Bans
{{GeneralPubBan}}

; Offence Designations
{{DesignationHeader}}
|-
|s. 708 {{DescrSec|708}} || {{XMark}} <!--wire--> || {{XMark}} <!--DO-->||{{XMark}} <!--SPIO--> || {{XMark}} <!--consent--> || {{XMark}} <!--IRPA-->
{{DesignationEnd}}

{{SeeBelowForAncillary}}

==Offence Wording==
{{quotation2|
; Contempt
708 (1) A person who, being required by law to attend or remain in attendance for the purpose of giving evidence, fails, without lawful excuse, to attend or remain in attendance accordingly is guilty of contempt of court.

; Punishment
(2) A court, judge, justice or provincial court judge may deal summarily with a person who is guilty of contempt of court under this section and that person is liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ninety days or to both, and may be ordered to pay the costs that are incident to the service of any process under this Part {{AnnSec|Part XXII}} and to his detention, if any.

; Form
(3) A conviction under this section may be in Form 38 and a warrant of committal in respect of a conviction under this section may be in Form 25.

R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 708;
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.)}}, s. 203;
{{LegHistory10s|2019, c. 25}}, s. 289(F).
{{Annotation}}
|{{CCCSec2|708}}
|{{NoteUp|708|1|2|3}}
}}

===Draft Form of Charges===
{{seealso|Draft Form of Charges}}
{{DraftHeader}}
|-	
|708
| contempt of court for failing to attend or remain
|"{{ellipsis1}} being required by law to attend or remain in attendance for the purpose of giving evidence, did fail, without lawful excuse, to attend or remain in attendance{{ToWit-Particulars}} {{contrary|708}}."
{{DraftEnd}}

==Proof of the Offence==
{{ElementHeader}}
{{ElementLeft}}
{{Proving|contempt of court|708}}<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Devost|2b6xj|2010 ONCA 459 (CanLII)|[2010] OJ No 2611}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}} (3:0){{atsL|2b6xj|34| to 36}}</ref>
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the accused's conduct seriously interferes with or obstructs the administration of justice ''or'' causes a serious risk of interference or obstruction with the administration of justice.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Glasner|6k4c|1994 CanLII 3444 (ON CA)|93 CCC (3d) 226}}{{perONCA|Laskin JA}} (2:1)</ref>
# {{box}} the culprit intended or was reckless in committing the conduct
{{ElementEnd}}
{{reflist|2}}

==Interpretation of the Offence==

"Contempt" requires a "conduct that is calculated to obstruct or interfere with the due course of justice of the lawful process of the courts." It consists of conduct "that seriously interferes with, or obstructs, the administration of justice."<ref>
{{ibid1|Elliott}}{{atL|1g18c|144}}<br>
</ref>
It is not sufficient that there was merely a "misunderstanding."<ref>
{{ibid1|Elliott}}{{atL|1g18c|144}}<br>
</ref>

; Actus Reus
The ''actus reus'' of the offence is "conduct which seriously interferes with or obstructs the administration of justice or which causes a serious risk of interference or obstructions."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Glasner|6k4c|1994 CanLII 3444 (ON CA)| (1994), 19 OR (3d) 739}}{{perONCA|Laskin JA}}{{atL|6k4c|24}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Devost|2b6xj|2010 ONCA 459 (CanLII)|256 CCC (3d) 374}}{{perONCA-H|Doherty JA}} (3:0){{atL|2b6xj|35}}<br>
</ref>

; Mens Rea
The ''mens rea'' requires deliberate or intentional conduct, or conduct which demonstrates indifference which is akin to recklessness.<ref>
{{supra1|Glasner}}{{atL|6k4c|29}}<br>
{{supra1|Devost}}{{atL|2b6xj|36}}<br>
</ref>

; Clear Refusal
A judge may convict a person of contempt where there has been a clear refusal to testify.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Aragon|hq88h|2018 ONCA 124 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtONCA}}{{atL|hq88h|1}}
</ref>

; Failure to Appear
Counsel's failure to appear in court may amount to contempt of court.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Watkins|1fbgx|2000 CanLII 16975 (ON CA)|149 CCC (3d) 279}}{{TheCourtONCA}} (3:0){{atL|1fbgx|11}}<br>
see {{CanLIIRP|Glasner|6k4c|1994 CanLII 3444 (ON CA)|19 OR (3d) 739, 93 CCC (3d) 226}}{{perONCA|Laskin JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Anders|gbb4d|1982 CanLII 3320 (ON CA)| (1982), 136 DLR (3d) 316, 67 CCC (2d) 138}}{{perONCA|Howland CJ}}{{atp|157}} (Ont. C.A.)<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Danson|g9fm3|1981 CanLII 3310|57 CCC (2d) 519}}{{perONCA-H|Martin JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Kopyto (No. 1)|g14mm|1981 CanLII 1899 (ON CA)|32 OR (2d) 585, 60 CCC (2d) 85 (CA)}}{{perONCA|Brooke JA}} (3:0)<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Jones|htxm6|1978 CanLII 2466|42 CCC (2d) 192}}{{perONCA-H|Martin JA}}
</ref>

; Failure to Release Exhibit
A person who fails to comply with an order under s. 605 to release an exhibit for testing is also guilty of contempt.(see s. 605(2))

; Jurisdiction
The Superior Court's power to cite a person in contempt of court is "a very important power but it is to be used with restraint."<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Elliott|1g18c|2003 CanLII 24447 (ON CA)|181 CCC (3d) 118}}{{TheCourtONCA}} (3:0){{atL|1g18c|144}}<br>
</ref>

; Testifying Out of Canada
A witness who gives evidence from outside of Canada by way of video will be deemed to having given it in Canada for the purpose of a charge of contempt. (s. 714.6)

{{reflist|2}}

===Form===
{{quotation2|
708<br>
{{removed|(1) and (2)}}
; Form
(3) A conviction under this section may be in Form 38 {{AnnSec|Form 38}} and a warrant of committal in respect of a conviction under this section may be in Form 25 {{AnnSec|Form 25}}.
<br>
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 708;
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.)}}, s. 203.
{{Annotation}}
|{{CCCSec2|708}}
|{{NoteUp|708|3}}
}}

{{Reflist|2}}

===Appellate Review===

{{quotation2|
; Appeal
10 (1) Where a court, judge, justice or provincial court judge summarily convicts a person for a contempt of court committed in the face of the court and imposes punishment in respect thereof, that person may appeal
:(a) from the conviction; or
:(b) against the punishment imposed.
; Idem
(2) Where a court or judge summarily convicts a person for a contempt of court not committed in the face of the court and punishment is imposed in respect thereof, that person may appeal
:(a) from the conviction; or
:(b) against the punishment imposed.
; Part XXI applies
(3) An appeal under this section lies to the court of appeal of the province in which the proceedings take place, and, for the purposes of this section, the provisions of Part XXI {{AnnSec|Part XXI}} apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require.
<br>
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 10; 
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.)}}, s. 203.
{{Annotation}}
|{{CCCSec2|10}}
|{{NoteUp|10|1|2|3}}
}}

==Contempt in Youth Criminal Justice==
{{quotation2|
; Contempt against youth justice court
15 (1) Every youth justice court has the same power, jurisdiction and authority to deal with and impose punishment for contempt against the court as may be exercised by the superior court of criminal jurisdiction of the province in which the court is situated.
; Jurisdiction of youth justice court
(2) A youth justice court has jurisdiction in respect of every contempt of court committed by a young person against the youth justice court whether or not committed in the face of the court, and every contempt of court committed by a young person against any other court otherwise than in the face of that court.
; Concurrent jurisdiction of youth justice court
(3) A youth justice court has jurisdiction in respect of every contempt of court committed by a young person against any other court in the face of that court and every contempt of court committed by an adult against the youth justice court in the face of the youth justice court, but nothing in this subsection affects the power, jurisdiction or authority of any other court to deal with or impose punishment for contempt of court.
; Youth sentence — contempt
(4) When a youth justice court or any other court finds a young person guilty of contempt of court, it may impose as a youth sentence any one of the sanctions set out in subsection 42(2) (youth sentences), or any number of them that are not inconsistent with each other, but no other sentence.
; Section 708 of Criminal Code applies in respect of adults
(5) Section 708 (contempt) of the Criminal Code applies in respect of proceedings under this section in youth justice court against adults, with any modifications that the circumstances require.
|{{YCJASec2|15}}
|{{NoteUpYCJA|15|1|2|3|4|5}}
}}

==Participation of Third Parties==
{{seealso|Role of the Victim and Third Parties|Testimonial Aids for Young, Disabled or Vulnerable Witnesses}}

; Testimonial Aids
{{3rdPTestimonyAids}}

; On Finding of Guilt
{{VictimHeader}} <!-- Sections / Notice of Agree / Notice of Restitution / Notice of VIS -->
|s. 708 {{DescrSec|708}} || {{No}} || {{No}}  ||   || 
|-
{{VictimEnd}}
<!--
{{606Notice5Y|XX}}
{{606NoticeSPIO|XX}}
-->
{{RestitutionNotice}}

{{VISNotice}}

==Sentencing Principles and Ranges==
{{seealsoSentencing}}

; Maximum Penalties
{{SProfileMaxHeader}}
{{SProfileMax|s. 708 {{DescrSec|708}} | {{NA}} | $100 fine and/or 90 days jail }}
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{MaxPenaltySummary|s. 708|$100 fine and/or 90 days jail}}

; Minimum Penalties
{{NoMinimumPenalties}}

; Available Dispositions
{{SProfileAvailHeader}}
|s. 708 {{DescrSec|708}} || {{NA}} || {{SProfileAll}}
|-
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{AllDispositionsAvailable}}

; Consecutive Sentences
{{NoConsecutive}}

===Principles===
Denunciation is one of the most influential factors in sentencing for contempt of court.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Omar|h306t|2017 ONSC 1833 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Molloy J}}{{atL|h306t|44}}<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|DaSilva|, [1986] OJ No 3090 (H.C.)}}{{at-|6}}<br>
</ref>

General deterrence is a primary objective when dealing with cases of contempt for refusing to testify.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Jacob|1vhfl|2008 MBCA 7 (CanLII)|231 CCC (3d) 553}}{{perMBCA|Scott CJ}}{{atsL|1vhfl|25| to 26}}<br>
</ref>
The sentence needs to send a message to the community about the breach of the public's duty to testify.<ref>
{{supra1|DaSliva}}{{at-|6}}<br>
</ref>

However, rehabilitation does ''not'' play a significant role in sentencing for contempt.<ref>
{{supra1|Omar}}{{atL|h306t|50}}<br>
</ref>

The use of this offence is essential for maintaining the rule of law as well as upholding the dignity and process of the courts.<ref>
{{CanLIIRPC|United Nurses of Alberta v Alberta (Attorney General)|1fscs|1992 CanLII 99 (SCC)|[1992] 1 SCR 901}}{{perSCC-H|McLachlin J}} (4:3){{atL|1fscs|20}} <br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

===Ranges===
{{seealsoRanges|Contempt of Court}}

In Ontario, the top end of the range of sentence is 3 years for  a first offender who commits the offence on the most serious cases such as murder.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Omar|h306t|2017 ONSC 1833 (CanLII)}}{{perONSC|Molloy J}}{{atL|h306t|54}}<br>
</ref>

; Common Law Offence
The common law offence of contempt of court, when prosecuted by summary conviction, is not limited by the statutory ceiling under s. 787.<Ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Krawczyk|2dnrq|2010 BCCA 542 (CanLII)|264 CCC (3d) 511}}{{perBCCA|Tysoe JA}}
</ref> 

{{reflist|2}}

==Ancillary Sentencing Orders==
{{seealso|Ancillary Orders}}

; Offence-specific Orders
{{NoOffenceOrders}}

; General Sentencing Orders
{{GeneralSentencingOrders(S)‏}}

; General Forfeiture Orders
{{NoOffenceOrders}}
<!--
{{GeneralForfeitureOrders(S)}}
-->
==Record Suspensions and Pardons== 
{{RecordSuspension|s. 708 {{DescrSec|708}} }}

==See Also==
; References
* [[Pre-Trial and Trial Motions Checklist]]