Section 31. Whoever resists the service of the writ of habeas corpus, or disobeys it when served, shall be liable to attachment as for a contempt of the court or justice before whom the writ is returnable.

Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 248 sec. 31

  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
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