§ 24-A §233 — Witnesses; disciplinary proceedings

1.
If any individual without reasonable cause fails to appear when summoned as a witness, or refuses to answer a lawful and pertinent question, or refuses to produce documentary evidence when directed to do so by the superintendent, or behaves in a disrespectful or disorderly manner at the inquiry, or obstructs the proceedings by any means, whether or not in the presence of the superintendent or the superintendent's designee, the individual is guilty of contempt and may be dealt with as provided in subsection 2.
2.
The superintendent or the superintendent's designee, as the case may be, may file a complaint in the Superior Court, setting forth under oath the facts constituting the contempt and requesting an order returnable in not less than 2 nor more than 5 days, directing the alleged contemner to show cause before the court why the alleged contemner should not be punished for contempt. Upon the return of such order, the court shall examine the alleged contemner under oath and the alleged contemner has an opportunity to be heard. If the court determines that the respondent has committed any alleged contempt, the court shall punish the offender as if the contempt had occurred in an action arising in or pending in such court.

Legislative History

PL 1969, c. 132, §1 (NEW). PL 1973, c. 585, §12 (AMD). RR 2021, c. 1, Pt. B, §174 (COR).