Disobeying a court order or otherwise defying court authority is best described as which concept?

• A. Contempt of court
• B. Perjury
• C. Obstruction of justice
• D. Double jeopardy

Answer: (A)

Disobeying a court order is contempt of court. Contempt is the act of willfully ignoring or defying what the court has commanded, such as refusing to follow a order, not showing up when ordered, or disrupting proceedings. Contempt can be civil or criminal: civil contempt is aimed at compelling compliance and may result in jail time until you comply, while criminal contempt punishes the disobedience itself. This is distinct from perjury, which is lying under oath, and from obstruction of justice, which involves actions that actively hinder the investigation or administration of justice (like destroying evidence or threatening witnesses). Double jeopardy is a separate protection that prevents being tried twice for the same offense.