Louisiana Revised Statutes 24:4 – Contempt of the legislature; penalties
Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 24:4
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
- Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
- person: includes a body of persons, whether incorporated or not. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 1:10
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
A. Whenever the legislature or either house of the legislature, or whenever any committee of either house or any joint committee of both houses or any sub-committee of any such committee, which committee, joint committee or sub-committee has been specifically and expressly granted the subpoena power, has summoned any person as a witness to give testimony or to produce papers or other evidence upon any matter under inquiry before such house, committee, joint committee or sub-committee, such person shall be guilty of contempt of the legislature if he or she
(1) willfully defaults by failing to appear or to produce papers or other evidence, as ordered, or
(2) having appeared, refuses to take the oath or affirmation of a witness, or
(3) having appeared, refuses to answer any question pertinent to the question under inquiry.
B. Whoever is found guilty of contempt of the legislature under the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
C. The provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 24:4 through La. Rev. Stat. 24:6 are hereby declared to be supplemental to the powers of the legislature and of the senate and of the house of representatives to punish for contempt, and the legislature hereby reserves to itself and to the senate and to the house of representatives all inherent and all constitutional powers to punish for contempt.
Added by Acts 1963, No. 51, §1.