{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-5a-31","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 5A-31","heading":"Contempt by a juvenile.","body":"(a)\tEach of the following, when done by an unemancipated minor who (i) is at least six years of age, (ii) is not yet 18 years of age, and (iii) has not been convicted of any crime in superior court, is contempt by a juvenile:\n(1)\tWillful behavior committed during the sitting of a court and directly tending to interrupt its proceedings.\n(2)\tWillful behavior committed during the sitting of a court in its immediate view and presence and directly tending to impair the respect due its authority.\n(3)\tWillful disobedience of, resistance to, or interference with a court's lawful process, order, directive, or instruction or its execution.\n(4)\tWillful refusal to be sworn or affirmed as a witness, or, when so sworn or affirmed, willful refusal to answer any legal and proper question when the refusal is not legally justified.\n(5)\tWillful or grossly negligent failure to comply with schedules and practices of the court resulting in substantial interference with the business of the court.\n(6)\tWillful refusal to testify or produce other information upon the order of a judge acting pursuant to Article 61 of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes, Granting of Immunity to Witnesses.\n(7)\tWillful communication with a juror in an improper attempt to influence the juror's deliberations.\n(8)\tAny other act or omission specified in another Chapter of the General Statutes as grounds for criminal contempt.\n(b)\tContempt by a juvenile is direct contempt by a juvenile when each of the following conditions is met:\n(1)\tThe act is committed within the sight or hearing of a presiding judicial official.\n(2)\tThe act is committed in, or in the immediate proximity to, the room where proceedings are being held before the court.\n(3)\tThe act is likely to interrupt or interfere with matters then before the court.\n(c)\tContempt by a juvenile that is not direct contempt by a juvenile is indirect contempt by a juvenile. (2007-168, s. 1; 2017-57, s. 16D.4(m); 2018-142, s. 23(b).)","path":["Chapter 5A. Contempt.","Article 3. Contempt by Juveniles."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_5A/GS_5A-31.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T17:55:12Z","sha256":"3ebf00dc7ec20998a24a2b0cfb98806aa4ff130e9cb1ffb7e0cb8cbe15c903d3","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-5a-30","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-5a-32"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}