In this authoritative treatise, Stewart Rapalje offers an in-depth analysis of the nature and function of contempt in the legal system. With detailed discussions of civil and criminal contempts, as well as the various kinds of officials and agencies that have the power to exercise judicial authority, Rapalje's work remains an essential resource for anyone interested in legal theory and practice. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.