West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB4893: Increase the penalties for contempt of court in a magistrate court
Status: Vetoed, April 1, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend and reenact §50-5-11 and §61-5-26 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the penalties and fines for a first, second, or third or subsequent finding contempt of court pertaining to the same matter in magistrate court; providing that a person adjudged guilty of a third or subsequent offense of contempt may, in the discretion of the magistrate, as an alternative to the sentence provided in the code, be sentenced in a manner consistent with §62-11A-1a of this code; and raising the amount a court can fine for contempt of court without a jury trial. C.
From the enrolled text, March 14, 2026:
AN ACT to amend and reenact §50-5-11 and §61-5-26 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the penalties and fines for a first, second, or third or subsequent finding contempt of court pertaining to the same matter in magistrate court; providing that a person adjudged guilty of a third or subsequent offense of contempt may, in the discretion of the magistrate, as an alternative to the sentence provided in the code, be sentenced in a manner consistent with §62-11A-1a of this code; and raising the amount a court can fine for contempt of court without a jury trial. CHAPTER 50. mAGISTRATE COURTS. Article 5. trials, hearings and appeals. §50-5-11. Contempt. A magistrate may punish for contempt of court a person guilty of any of the following (b) Any breach of the peace, willful disturbance, or indecent conduct in the presence of such magistrate while so engaged, or so near as to obstruct or interrupt the proceedings; (c) Violence or threats of violence to such magistrate, or any officer, juror, witness, or party going to, attending, or returning from, any judicial proceeding before the court with respect to anything done or to be done in the course of such proceeding; (d) Flagrant misbehavior of any officer of the county acting in his or her official capacity …
Sponsors
- (R, 006) · primary sponsor