{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/12.1-34.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/12.1-34.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/12.1-34.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/12.1-34.html"}],"law_id":346272,"edition_id":2,"section_id":346272,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-34","catch_line":"Punishment for contempt","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 12-21; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 157; 1991, c. 710.","full_text":"The Commission shall have the power to punish for contempt by fine not exceeding $1,000 or by confinement not exceeding six months, or by both, any person duly summoned to appear and testify before the Commission who fails or refuses to appear and testify, without lawful excuse, or who refuses to answer any proper question propounded to him by the Commission in the discharge of its duty or who conducts himself in a rude, disrespectful, or disorderly manner before the Commission or any of the commissioners deliberating in the discharge of duty in public session. Any person punished for contempt by confinement may be committed by the Commission to the jail of any city or county of this Commonwealth. The jailer thereof shall receive the person upon the commitment of the Commission attested by its clerk, and shall confine the person for the term of imprisonment specified in the commitment. The jailer shall receive for the board of any person so committed the same allowance made by law for other persons confined in the jail.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1290729,"text":"The Commission shall have the power to punish for contempt by fine not exceeding $1,000 or by confinement not exceeding six months, or by both, any person duly summoned to appear and testify before the Commission who fails or refuses to appear and testify, without lawful excuse, or who refuses to answer any proper question propounded to him by the Commission in the discharge of its duty or who conducts himself in a rude, disrespectful, or disorderly manner before the Commission or any of the commissioners deliberating in the discharge of duty in public session. Any person punished for contempt by confinement may be committed by the Commission to the jail of any city or county of this Commonwealth. The jailer thereof shall receive the person upon the commitment of the Commission attested by its clerk, and shall confine the person for the term of imprisonment specified in the commitment. The jailer shall receive for the board of any person so committed the same allowance made by law for other persons confined in the jail.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":49725,"edition_id":2,"name":"Procedure Before the Commission and Appeals","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":5,"parent_id":49720,"metadata":{"child_laws":20,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:13:58","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:04","permalink":{"id":1374413,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49725,"identifier":"5","token":"12.1\/5","url":"\/12.1\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49720,"edition_id":2,"name":"State Corporation Commission","identifier":"12.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":42,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":49,"child_structures":5},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:13:55","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:04","permalink":{"id":1374287,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49720,"identifier":"12.1","token":"12.1","url":"\/12.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":346261,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-25","catch_line":"Rules of practice and procedure","url":"\/12.1-25\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-25","metadata":false},{"id":346262,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-26","catch_line":"Public sessions","url":"\/12.1-26\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-26","metadata":false},{"id":346263,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-27","catch_line":"Commonwealth to be complainant, etc.; parties entitled to process","url":"\/12.1-27\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-27","metadata":false},{"id":346264,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-28","catch_line":"Notice and hearing","url":"\/12.1-28\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-28","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"VYVX of Virginia, Inc. v. Cassell","case_number":"Record 990285","citation":"258 Va. 276","date":"1999-09-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1059716\/vyvx-of-virginia-inc-v-cassell\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. JUSTICE HASSELL .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Rates v. Electric","case_number":"Record No. 911318; Record No. 911319; Record No. 911320","citation":"243 Va. 320","date":"1992-02-28","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6930028\/rates-v-electric\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. JUSTICE HASSELL .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"Blinder, Robinson & Co. v. State Corp. Commission","case_number":"Records Nos. 831429, 831430, 831431, 831432 and 831433","citation":"227 Va. 24","date":"1984-03-09","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6928045\/blinder-robinson-co-v-state-corp-commission\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. CARRICO, C.J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Virginia Electric & Power Co. v. State Corp. Commission","case_number":"Record 831040","citation":"312 S.E.2d 25","date":"1984-01-20","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1255730\/virginia-electric-power-co-v-state-corp-commission\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 312 S.E.2d 25 (1984) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"Second National Bank of Culpeper v. New Bank of Culpeper","case_number":"Record 730989","citation":"210 S.E.2d 136","date":"1974-08-28","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1335743\/second-national-bank-of-culpeper-v-new-bank-of-culpeper\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 210 S.E.2d 136 (1974) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"5":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. American Bankers Life Assurance Co. of Florida v. Division .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"Records Nos. 791180, 791189, 791193, 791198 and 791200 to 791204","citation":"263 S.E.2d 867","date":"1980-02-29","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1323328\/american-bankers-life-assurance-co-of-florida-v-division-of-consumer\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 263 S.E.2d 867 (1980) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"6":{"name":"National Home Insurance v. State Corp. Commission","case_number":"Civ. A. No. 93-1006-A","citation":"838 F. Supp. 1104","date":"1993-12-03","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8721694\/national-home-insurance-v-state-corp-commission\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. MEMORANDUM OPINION .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"7":{"name":"Roanoke Gas Co. v. State Corp. Commission","case_number":"Record No. 820485","citation":"225 Va. 186","date":"1983-03-11","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6927757\/roanoke-gas-co-v-state-corp-commission\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. STEPHENSON, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"8":{"name":"Beneficial Finance Co. v. State Corp. Commission","case_number":"Record No. 850512","citation":"230 Va. 529","date":"1986-01-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6928573\/beneficial-finance-co-v-state-corp-commission\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. THOMAS, J., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":346265,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-29","catch_line":"Writs and process","url":"\/12.1-29\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-29","metadata":false},{"id":346268,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-30","catch_line":"Rules of evidence to be as in courts of record","url":"\/12.1-30\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-30","metadata":false},{"id":346267,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-30.1","catch_line":"Meetings and communications between commissioners and parties or staff","url":"\/12.1-30.1\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-30.1","metadata":false},{"id":346269,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-31","catch_line":"Hearing examiners; powers and duties; reports to be furnished to parties; responses by parties","url":"\/12.1-31\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-31","metadata":false},{"id":346270,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-32","catch_line":"Costs, fees, and expenses","url":"\/12.1-32\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-32","metadata":false},{"id":346271,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-33","catch_line":"Fine for disobedience of Commission orders","url":"\/12.1-33\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-33","metadata":false},{"id":346272,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-34","catch_line":"Punishment for contempt","url":"\/12.1-34\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-34","metadata":false},{"id":346273,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-35","catch_line":"Judgments to be in favor of Commonwealth","url":"\/12.1-35\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-35","metadata":false},{"id":346274,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-36","catch_line":"Time judgment takes effect; interest","url":"\/12.1-36\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-36","metadata":false},{"id":346275,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-37","catch_line":"Lien of judgment; docketing","url":"\/12.1-37\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-37","metadata":false},{"id":346276,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-38","catch_line":"Concurrent jurisdiction of Commission and courts","url":"\/12.1-38\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-38","metadata":false},{"id":346277,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-39","catch_line":"Appeals generally","url":"\/12.1-39\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-39","metadata":false},{"id":346279,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-40","catch_line":"Method of taking and prosecuting appeals","url":"\/12.1-40\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-40","metadata":false},{"id":346280,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-41","catch_line":"Petitions for writs of supersedeas","url":"\/12.1-41\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-41","metadata":false},{"id":346281,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-42","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/12.1-42\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-42","metadata":false},{"id":346282,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-43","catch_line":"Tax assessments, registration fee assessments, report forms, and correspondence mailed by Commission deemed delivered","url":"\/12.1-43\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-43","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":346271,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-33","catch_line":"Fine for disobedience of Commission orders","url":"\/12.1-33\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-33","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":346273,"structure_id":49725,"section_number":"12.1-35","catch_line":"Judgments to be in favor of Commonwealth","url":"\/12.1-35\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-35","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/12.1-34\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 1991, chapter 710.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1374455,"object_type":"law","relational_id":346272,"identifier":"12.1-34","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-34","url":"\/12.1-34\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/12.1-34\/","token":"12.1\/5\/12.1-34","dublin_core":{"Title":"Punishment for contempt","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 12.1-34","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The Commission shall have the power to punish for <span class=\"dictionary\">contempt<\/span> by fine not exceeding $1,000 or by confinement not exceeding six months, or by both, any person duly summoned to appear and testify before the Commission who fails or refuses to appear and testify, without lawful excuse, or who refuses to answer any proper question propounded to him by the Commission in the discharge of its duty or who conducts himself in a rude, disrespectful, or disorderly manner before the Commission or any of the commissioners deliberating in the discharge of duty in public session. Any person punished for <span class=\"dictionary\">contempt<\/span> by confinement may be committed by the Commission to the jail of any city or county of this Commonwealth. The jailer thereof shall receive the person upon the commitment of the Commission attested by its clerk, and shall confine the person for the term of imprisonment specified in the commitment. The jailer shall receive for the board of any person so committed the same allowance made by <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> for other persons confined in the jail.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPUNISHMENT FOR CONTEMPT (\u00a7 12.1-34)\n\nThe Commission shall have the power to punish for contempt by fine not exceeding\n$1,000 or by confinement not exceeding six months, or by both, any person duly\nsummoned to appear and testify before the Commission who fails or refuses to\nappear and testify, without lawful excuse, or who refuses to answer any proper\nquestion propounded to him by the Commission in the discharge of its duty or who\nconducts himself in a rude, disrespectful, or disorderly manner before the\nCommission or any of the commissioners deliberating in the discharge of duty in\npublic session. Any person punished for contempt by confinement may be committed\nby the Commission to the jail of any city or county of this Commonwealth. The\njailer thereof shall receive the person upon the commitment of the Commission\nattested by its clerk, and shall confine the person for the term of imprisonment\nspecified in the commitment. The jailer shall receive for the board of any\nperson so committed the same allowance made by law for other persons confined in\nthe jail.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 12-21; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 157; 1991, c. 710.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}