Me. Justice White
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The question in this case concerns the validity of a criminal contempt judgment entered against petitioner by reason of certain events occurring in the course of a criminal trial in the courts of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Petitioner was retained counsel for Narvel Tinsley, a Negro, who along with his brother Michael was [490]*490charged with the murders of two police officers. According to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, the “murders created some considerable sensation in Louisville . . . and . . . newspaper coverage was overly abundant.” 494 S. W. 2d 737, 739 (1973). Trial before respondent trial judge began on October 18, 1971, and was completed on October 29.
On nine different occasions during this turbulent trial, respondent, out of the hearing of the jury and most often in chambers, informed petitioner that he was in contempt of court. The first charge was immediately reduced to a warning and no sentence was imposed at the time of charge- in that or any other instance. Petitioner was permitted to respond to most, but not all, of the charges.1
At the conclusion of the trial on October 29 and after a guilty verdict had been returned, respondent, in the presence of the jury, made a statement concerning petitioner’s trial conduct. Refusing petitioner’s request to respond and declaring that “I have you” on nine counts, respondent proceeded to impose a jail term on each count totaling almost four and one-half years: 30 days on the first count, 60 days on the second, 90 days on the third, six months on counts four, five, six, and seven, and one year each on counts eight and nine, “all [491]*491to run consecutive.”2 A few days later, petitioner was also barred from practicing law by respondent in his division of the Criminal Branch of the Jefferson Circuit Court.
[492]*492While petitioner’s appeal was pending, on March 2, 1972, respondent entered a corrected judgment containing a “certificate” which described the nine charges of contempt3 but eliminated the first charge as having been [493]*493reduced to a warning and reduced the sentence on each of the last two counts to six months in jail. The corrected judgment was silent as to whether the sentences were to run concurrently or consecutively.
[494]*494The Kentucky Court of Appeals affirmed, holding that petitioner was guilty of each and every contempt charged. In its view, petitioner’s actions “were deliberate, delaying, or planned disruptive tactics which did in fact create such an atmosphere in the court that he, if permitted to continue, would have appeared to be the star performer in the center ring of a three-ring circus.” 494 S. W. 2d, at 740. Petitioner had committed “innumerable acts . . . which clearly reflected his contempt for the court as well as the judicial system of this Commonwealth . . .” and had been “overbearing, contemptuous, and obnoxiously persistent in his questions and objections . . . .” Id., at 741. The Court of Appeals also concluded that petitioner had not launched any “personal attack” on the trial judge and that the judge had neither conducted himself as an “ 'activist seeking combat’ ” nor had become so personally embroiled that he was disqualified to sit in judgment on the charges of contempt, although his remarks prior to entering judgment of contempt at the conclusion of the trial were “inappropriate.” Id., at 744^745.
The Court of Appeals further ruled that because the amended judgment did not “direct that the sentences, as amended, be served consecutively . . . they must be served concurrently.” Id., at 746. Thus, “[t]he penalty actually imposed on Daniel Taylor [was] six months in jail,” and his conviction and sentence without a jury trial [495]*495were deemed constitutionally permissible. Id., at 747. The Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled, however, that it had exclusive authority to discipline or disbar attorneys and that, in any event, the rule in Kentucky since 1917 had been that suspension from practice was not a permissible punishment for criminal contempt. The order prohibiting petitioner from practicing in the Jefferson Circuit Court, Criminal Branch, Second Division, was therefore reversed. We granted certiorari limited to specified issues, 414 U. S. 1063 (1973).
I
Petitioner contends that any charge of contempt of court, without exception, must be tried to a jury. Quite to the contrary, however, our cases hold that petty contempt like other petty criminal offenses may be tried without a jury and that contempt of court is a petty offense when the penalty actually imposed does not exceed six months or a longer penalty has not been expressly authorized by statute. Cheff v. Schnackenberg, 384 U. S. 373 (1966); Bloom v. Illinois, 391 U. S. 194 (1968); Dyke v. Taylor Implement Mfg. Co., Inc., 391 U. S. 216 (1968); Frank v. United States, 395 U. S. 147 (1969) ; Baldwin v. New York, 399 U. S. 66 (1970). Hence, although petitioner was ultimately found guilty and sentenced separately on eight counts of contempt, the sentences were to run concurrently and were, as the Kentucky Court of Appeals held, equivalent to a single sentence of six months. Cf. Codispoti v. Pennsylvania, post, p. 506. The original sentences imposed on the separate counts were to run consecutively and totaled almost four and one-half years, with two individual counts each carrying a year’s sentence. But the trial court itself entered an amended judgment which was understood by the Kentucky Court of Appeals to impose no more than a six-[496]*496month sentence. The eight contempts, whether considered singly or collectively, thus constituted petty offenses, and trial by jury was not required.
It is argued that a State should not be permitted, after conviction, to reduce the sentence to less than six months and thereby obviate a jury trial. The thrust of our decisions, however, is to the contrary: in the absence of legislative authorization of serious penalties for contempt, a State may choose to try any contempt without a jury if it determines not to impose a sentence longer than six months. We discern no material difference between this choice and permitting the State, after conviction, to reduce a sentence to six months or less rather than to retry the contempt with a jury. Cf. Cheff v. Schnackenberg, supra, at 380. In either case, the State itself has determined that the contempt is not so serious as to warrant more than a six-month sentence. We remain firmly committed to the proposition that “criminal contempt is not a crime of the sort that requires the right to jury trial regardless of the penalty involved.” Bloom v. Illinois, supra, at 211; cf. Argersinger v. Hamlin, 407 U. S. 25, 30 (1972).
II
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Me. Justice White
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The question in this case concerns the validity of a criminal contempt judgment entered against petitioner by reason of certain events occurring in the course of a criminal trial in the courts of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Petitioner was retained counsel for Narvel Tinsley, a Negro, who along with his brother Michael was [490]*490charged with the murders of two police officers. According to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, the “murders created some considerable sensation in Louisville . . . and . . . newspaper coverage was overly abundant.” 494 S. W. 2d 737, 739 (1973). Trial before respondent trial judge began on October 18, 1971, and was completed on October 29.
On nine different occasions during this turbulent trial, respondent, out of the hearing of the jury and most often in chambers, informed petitioner that he was in contempt of court. The first charge was immediately reduced to a warning and no sentence was imposed at the time of charge- in that or any other instance. Petitioner was permitted to respond to most, but not all, of the charges.1
At the conclusion of the trial on October 29 and after a guilty verdict had been returned, respondent, in the presence of the jury, made a statement concerning petitioner’s trial conduct. Refusing petitioner’s request to respond and declaring that “I have you” on nine counts, respondent proceeded to impose a jail term on each count totaling almost four and one-half years: 30 days on the first count, 60 days on the second, 90 days on the third, six months on counts four, five, six, and seven, and one year each on counts eight and nine, “all [491]*491to run consecutive.”2 A few days later, petitioner was also barred from practicing law by respondent in his division of the Criminal Branch of the Jefferson Circuit Court.
[492]*492While petitioner’s appeal was pending, on March 2, 1972, respondent entered a corrected judgment containing a “certificate” which described the nine charges of contempt3 but eliminated the first charge as having been [493]*493reduced to a warning and reduced the sentence on each of the last two counts to six months in jail. The corrected judgment was silent as to whether the sentences were to run concurrently or consecutively.
[494]*494The Kentucky Court of Appeals affirmed, holding that petitioner was guilty of each and every contempt charged. In its view, petitioner’s actions “were deliberate, delaying, or planned disruptive tactics which did in fact create such an atmosphere in the court that he, if permitted to continue, would have appeared to be the star performer in the center ring of a three-ring circus.” 494 S. W. 2d, at 740. Petitioner had committed “innumerable acts . . . which clearly reflected his contempt for the court as well as the judicial system of this Commonwealth . . .” and had been “overbearing, contemptuous, and obnoxiously persistent in his questions and objections . . . .” Id., at 741. The Court of Appeals also concluded that petitioner had not launched any “personal attack” on the trial judge and that the judge had neither conducted himself as an “ 'activist seeking combat’ ” nor had become so personally embroiled that he was disqualified to sit in judgment on the charges of contempt, although his remarks prior to entering judgment of contempt at the conclusion of the trial were “inappropriate.” Id., at 744^745.
The Court of Appeals further ruled that because the amended judgment did not “direct that the sentences, as amended, be served consecutively . . . they must be served concurrently.” Id., at 746. Thus, “[t]he penalty actually imposed on Daniel Taylor [was] six months in jail,” and his conviction and sentence without a jury trial [495]*495were deemed constitutionally permissible. Id., at 747. The Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled, however, that it had exclusive authority to discipline or disbar attorneys and that, in any event, the rule in Kentucky since 1917 had been that suspension from practice was not a permissible punishment for criminal contempt. The order prohibiting petitioner from practicing in the Jefferson Circuit Court, Criminal Branch, Second Division, was therefore reversed. We granted certiorari limited to specified issues, 414 U. S. 1063 (1973).
I
Petitioner contends that any charge of contempt of court, without exception, must be tried to a jury. Quite to the contrary, however, our cases hold that petty contempt like other petty criminal offenses may be tried without a jury and that contempt of court is a petty offense when the penalty actually imposed does not exceed six months or a longer penalty has not been expressly authorized by statute. Cheff v. Schnackenberg, 384 U. S. 373 (1966); Bloom v. Illinois, 391 U. S. 194 (1968); Dyke v. Taylor Implement Mfg. Co., Inc., 391 U. S. 216 (1968); Frank v. United States, 395 U. S. 147 (1969) ; Baldwin v. New York, 399 U. S. 66 (1970). Hence, although petitioner was ultimately found guilty and sentenced separately on eight counts of contempt, the sentences were to run concurrently and were, as the Kentucky Court of Appeals held, equivalent to a single sentence of six months. Cf. Codispoti v. Pennsylvania, post, p. 506. The original sentences imposed on the separate counts were to run consecutively and totaled almost four and one-half years, with two individual counts each carrying a year’s sentence. But the trial court itself entered an amended judgment which was understood by the Kentucky Court of Appeals to impose no more than a six-[496]*496month sentence. The eight contempts, whether considered singly or collectively, thus constituted petty offenses, and trial by jury was not required.
It is argued that a State should not be permitted, after conviction, to reduce the sentence to less than six months and thereby obviate a jury trial. The thrust of our decisions, however, is to the contrary: in the absence of legislative authorization of serious penalties for contempt, a State may choose to try any contempt without a jury if it determines not to impose a sentence longer than six months. We discern no material difference between this choice and permitting the State, after conviction, to reduce a sentence to six months or less rather than to retry the contempt with a jury. Cf. Cheff v. Schnackenberg, supra, at 380. In either case, the State itself has determined that the contempt is not so serious as to warrant more than a six-month sentence. We remain firmly committed to the proposition that “criminal contempt is not a crime of the sort that requires the right to jury trial regardless of the penalty involved.” Bloom v. Illinois, supra, at 211; cf. Argersinger v. Hamlin, 407 U. S. 25, 30 (1972).
II
We are more persuaded by petitioner’s contention that he was entitled to more of a hearing and notice than he received prior to final conviction and sentence. In each instance during the trial when respondent considered petitioner to be in contempt, petitioner was informed of that fact and, in most instances, had opportunity to respond to the charge at that time. It is quite true, as the Kentucky Court of Appeals held, that “[t]he contempt citations and the sentences coming at the end of the trial were not and could not have been a surprise to Taylor, because upon each occasion and immediately following the charged act of contempt the court informed [497]*497Taylor that he was at that time in contempt of court.” 494 S. W. 2d, at 741-742. But no sentence was imposed during the trial, and it does not appear to us that any final adjudication of contempt was entered until after the verdict was returned. It was then that the court proceeded to describe and characterize petitioner’s various acts during trial as contemptuous, to find him guilty of nine acts of contempt, and to sentence him immediately for each of those acts.
It is also plain from the record that when petitioner sought to respond to what the Kentucky Court of Appeals referred to as the trial court’s “declaration of a charge against Taylor based upon the judge’s observations” during trial,4 respondent informed him that “[yjou’re not responding to me on anything” and even indicated that petitioner might be gagged if he insisted on defending himself.5 The trial court then proceeded without further formality to impose consecutive sentences totaling almost four and one-half years in the county jail and to bar petitioner forever from practicing before the court in which the case at issue had been tried.
This procedure does not square with the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. We are not concerned here with the trial judge’s power, for the purpose of maintaining order in the courtroom, to punish summarily and without notice or hearing contemptuous conduct committed in his presence and observed by him. Ex parte Terry, 128 U. S. 289 (1888). The usual justification of necessity, see Offutt v. United States, 348 U. S. 11, 14 (1954), is not nearly so cogent when final adjudication and sentence are postponed until after trial.6 Our de[498]*498cisions establish that summary punishment need not always be imposed during trial if it is to be permitted at all. In proper circumstances, particularly where the offender is a lawyer representing a client on trial, it may be postponed until the conclusion of the proceedings. Sacher v. United States, 343 U. S. 1 (1952); cf. Mayberry v. Pennsylvania, 400 U. S. 455, 463 (1971). But Sacher noted that “[s]ummary punishment always, and rightly, is regarded with disfavor ... .” 343 U. S., at 8. “[W]e have stated time and again that reasonable notice of a charge and an opportunity to be heard in defense before punishment is imposed are 'basic in our system of jurisprudence.’ ” Groppi v. Leslie, 404 U. S. 496, 502 (1972), quoting In re Oliver, 333 U. S. 257, 273 (1948). Even where summary punishment for contempt is imposed during trial, “the contemnor has normally been given an opportunity to speak in his own behalf in the nature of a right of allocution.” Groppi v. Leslie, supra, at 504 (and cases cited therein).7
On the other hand, where conviction and punishment are delayed, “it is much more difficult to argue that action without notice or hearing of any kind is necessary to preserve order and enable [the court] to proceed with its business.” Ibid. As we noted in Groppi, the contem-nors in the Sacher case were “given an opportunity to speak” and the “trial judge would, no doubt[,] have modified his action had their statements proved persuasive.” Id., at 506, and n. 11. Groppi counsels that before an attorney is finally adjudicated in contempt and sentenced [499]*499after trial for conduct during trial, he should have reasonable notice of the specific charges and opportunity to be heard in his own behalf. This is not to say, however, that a full-scale trial is appropriate. Usually, the events have occurred before the judge’s own eyes, and a reporter’s transcript is available. But the contemnor might at least urge, for example, that the behavior at issue was not contempt but the acceptable conduct of an attorney representing his client; or, he might present matters in mitigation or otherwise attempt to make amends with the court. Cf. Groppi v. Leslie, supra, at 503, 506 n. 11.8
[500]*500These procedures are essential in view of the heightened potential for abuse posed by the contempt power. Bloom v. Illinois, 391 U. S., at 202; Sacher v. United States, 343 U. S., at 12. The provision of fundamental due process protections for contemnors accords with our historic notions of elementary fairness. While we have no desire “to imprison the discretion of judges within rigid mechanical rules,” Offutt v. United States, 348 U. S., at 15, we remain unpersuaded that “the additional time and expense possibly involved . . . will seriously handicap the effective functioning of the courts.” Bloom v. Illinois, supra, at 208-209. Due process cannot be measured in minutes and hours or dollars and cents. For the accused contemnor facing a jail sentence, his “liberty is valuable and must be seen as within the protection of the Fourteenth Amendment. Its termination calls for some orderly process, however informal.” Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U. S. 471, 482 (1972).
Because these minimum requirements of due process of law were not extended to petitioner in this case, the contempt judgment must be set aside.9
[501]*501III
We are also convinced that if petitioner is to be tried again, he should not be tried by respondent. We agree with the Kentucky Court of Appeals that petitioner’s conduct did not constitute the kind of personal attack on respondent that, regardless of his reaction or lack of it, he would be "[un]likely to maintain that calm detachment necessary for fair adjudication.” Mayberry v. Pennsylvania, 400 U. S., at 465.
But contemptuous conduct, though short of personal attack, may still provoke a trial judge and so embroil him in controversy that he cannot “hold the balance nice, clear and true between the State and the accused . . . .” Tumey v. Ohio, 273 U. S. 510, 532 (1927). In making this ultimate judgment, the inquiry must be not only whether there was actual bias on respondent’s part, but also whether there was “such a likelihood of bias or an appearance of bias that the judge was unable to hold the balance between vindicating the interests of the court and the interests of the accused.” Ungar v. Sarafite, 376 U. S. 575, 588 (1964). “Such a stringent rule may sometimes bar trial by judges who have no actual bias and who would do their very best to weigh the scales of justice equally between contending parties,” but due process of law requires no less. In re Murchison, 349 U. S. 133, 136 (1955).
With these considerations in mind, we have examined the record in this case, and it appears to us that respondent did become embroiled in a running controversy with petitioner. Moreover, as the trial progressed, there was a mounting display of an unfavorable personal attitude toward petitioner, his ability, and his motives, sufficiently [502]*502so that the contempt issue should have been finally adjudicated by another judge.
Early in the trial respondent cautioned petitioner against “putting on a show” and added that “if you give him an inch, he'll take a mile. I might as well sit on him now.” App. 31, 40. On another occasion when petitioner asserted that his purpose was to defend his case, respondent replied, “I’m not sure.” Id., at 61. When petitioner remarked that he had five months wrapped up in the case, respondent retorted that “[b]e-fore it's over, you might have a lot more than that.” Id., at 98. On the other hand, petitioner complained of respondent’s “overbearing contentiousness in regard to me, both by phrase and by its utterances,” and asserted that the court was prejudicing the trial of his case. Id., at 60. Respondent was likewise said to be “using [the] brute power of your office” in saying that petitioner was damaging his client. Id., at 61. On another occasion, respondent understood petitioner to be asserting that he, respondent, had rigged the jury. Id., at 85-86.
That respondent had reacted strongly to petitioner’s conduct throughout the 10-day trial clearly emerged in the statement which he made prior to sentencing petitioner and which the Court of Appeals characterized as “inappropriate.” There he said petitioner had put on “the worst display” he had seen in many years at the bar — “[a]s far as a lawyer is concerned, you’re not.” Id., at 28. Furthermore, respondent denied petitioner the opportunity to make any statement at that time, threatened to gag him and forthwith sentenced him to almost four and one-half years in jail, not to mention later disbarring him from further practice in his court. He also refused to grant him bail pending appeal. We assume for the purposes of this case that each of the charged acts was contemptuous; nevertheless, a sentence of this magnitude reflects the extent to which the respondent became per[503]*503sonally involved. Cf. Offutt v. United States, 348 U. S., at 17.
From our own reading of the record, we have concluded that “marked personal feelings were present on both sides” and that the marks of “unseemly conduct [had] left personal stings,” Mayberry v. Pennsylvania, 400 U. S., at 464. A fellow judge should have been substituted for the purpose of finally disposing of the charges of contempt made by respondent against petitioner. Respondent relies on Ungar v. Sarafite, supra, but we were impressed there with the fact that the judge “did not purport to proceed summarily during or at the conclusion of the trial, but gave notice and afforded an opportunity for a hearing which was conducted dispassionately and with a decorum befitting a judicial proceeding.” 376 U. S., at 588.10
Nothing we have said here should be construed to condone the type of conduct described in the opinion of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and found by that court to have been engaged in by petitioner. Behavior of this nature has no place in the courtroom which, in a free society, is a forum for the courteous and reasoned pursuit of truth and justice.
[504]*504The judgment of the Kentucky Court of Appeals is reversed and the case is remanded to that court for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.
So ordered.
Mr. Justice Douglas joins Parts II and III of the Court’s opinion.
[For dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice Rehnquist, see post, p. 523.]