Every person guilty of any contempt of court by the contumacious and unlawful refusal to be sworn or affirmed as a witness; or, when so sworn or affirmed, like refusal to answer any material question, is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Attorney's Note

Under the South Dakota Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class 2 misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $500
For details, see § 22-6-2

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 16-15-5

  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2

Source: PenC 1877, § 202, subdiv 6; CL 1887, § 6402, subdiv 6; RPenC 1903, § 205, subdiv 6; RC 1919, § 3793 (6); SDC 1939, § 13.1235 (6); SL 1979, ch 150, § 9.