Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 12 Sec. 3979

  • 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.
  • Magistrate: shall mean any Supreme Court Justice, Superior judge, District judge, or Probate judge. See
  • Person: shall include any natural person, corporation, municipality, the State of Vermont or any department, agency, or subdivision of the State, and any partnership, unincorporated association, or other legal entity. See
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.

§ 3979. Confinement for contempt—Issuance and return of writ

When a person disobeys the order, decree, judgment, or process of a court or a magistrate thereof, or is guilty of a contempt of such court or magistrate, and in consequence is imprisoned or confined by the order or judgment of such court or magistrate, such person shall be entitled to his or her writ of habeas corpus, returnable to the Supreme Court.