Federal · Title 42 — Public Health and Welfare

42 U.S.C. § 2281: Contempt proceedings

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A federal district court may hold someone in contempt and impose punishment if they fail or refuse to obey a court order requiring them to appear, testify, or produce documents after being subpoenaed.

Read the full statutory text

In case of failure or refusal to obey a subpena served upon any person pursuant to section 2201(c) of this title , the district court for any district in which such person is found or resides or transacts business, upon application by the Attorney General on behalf of the United States, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and give testimony or to appear and produce documents, or both, in accordance with the subpena; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.