N.Y. Judiciary Law § 750: Power of courts to punish for criminal contempts

§ 750. Power of courts to punish for criminal contempts.

A. A court of record has power to punish for a criminal contempt, a

person guilty of any of the following acts, and no others:

1. Disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent behavior, committed during

its sitting, in its immediate view and presence, and directly tending to

interrupt its proceedings, or to impair the respect due to its

authority.

2. Breach of the peace, noise, or other disturbance, directly tending

to interrupt its proceedings.

3. Wilful disobedience to its lawful mandate.

4. Resistance wilfully offered to its lawful mandate.

5. Contumacious and unlawful refusal to be sworn as a witness; or,

after being sworn, to answer any legal and proper interrogatory.

6. Publication of a false, or grossly inaccurate report of its

proceedings. But a court can not punish as a contempt, the publication

of a true, full, and fair report of a trial, argument, decision, or

other proceeding therein.

7. Wilful failure to obey any mandate, process or notice issued

pursuant to articles sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, eighteen-a or

eighteen-b of the judiciary law, or to rules adopted pursuant thereto,

or to any other statute relating thereto, or refusal to be sworn as

provided therein, or subjection of an employee to discharge or penalty

on account of his absence from employment by reason of jury or

subpoenaed witness service in violation of this chapter or section

215.11 of the penal law. Applications to punish the accused for a

contempt specified in this subdivision may be made by notice of motion

or by order to show cause, and shall be made returnable at the term of

the supreme court at which contested motions are heard, or of the county

court if the supreme court is not in session.

B. In addition to the power to punish for a criminal contempt as set

forth in subdivision A, the supreme court has power under this section

to punish for a criminal contempt any person who unlawfully practices or

assumes to practice law; and a proceeding under this subdivision may be

instituted on the court's own motion or on the motion of any officer

charged with the duty of investigating or prosecuting unlawful practice

of law, or by any bar association incorporated under the laws of this

state.

C. A court not of record has only such power to punish for a criminal

contempt as is specifically granted to it by statute and no other.