Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:428 Primary Sponsor:Rose Committee Number:11 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Municipal judges, contempt powers Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Judiciary Computer Document Number:BR1/1057.AC Introduced Date:Jan 09, 1991 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:Jan 09, 1991 Last History Type:Introduced and read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Rose Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN
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428 Senate Jan 09, 1991 Introduced and read first 11
time, referred to Committee
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TO AMEND SECTION 22-3-950, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CONTEMPT POWERS OF MAGISTRATES, SO AS TO INCLUDE MUNICIPAL JUDGES AND TO INCREASE THEIR AUTHORITY TO PUNISH FOR CONTEMPT FROM A TWENTY DOLLAR FINE OR TWELVE HOURS' IMPRISONMENT, OR BOTH, TO A ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR FINE OR TWELVE HOURS' IMPRISONMENT, OR BOTH.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 22-3-950 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 22-3-950. Every magistrate and municipal judge shall have power to enforce the observance of decorum in his court while holding the same court and for that purpose he may punish for contempt any person who shall, in the presence of the court, offer an insult to insults the magistrate or municipal judge, a member of the court's staff, or a juror, or who shall be wilfully causes guilty of an undue disturbance of the proceedings before the magistrate or municipal judge while sitting officially, as for a contempt, by a fine and imprisonment, either or both, not exceeding twenty dollars fine and twelve hours imprisonment of one hundred dollars or twelve hours' imprisonment, or both."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.