Posting Lies Online ? What is Contempt Ex Curia Facie ? Nairalaw.com

Contempt ex facie curiae is a Latin term that means “contempt in the face of the court.” It refers to contempt that is committed outside of the court’s presence, but that still has a direct impact on the court’s ability to administer justice. Examples of contempt ex facie curiae include:

Disobeying a court order
Tampering with evidence
Threatening or intimidating witnesses
Making false or misleading statements to the court
Bribery or corruption of court officials
Publishing material that is intended to interfere with a pending court case
Contempt ex facie curiae is a serious offense, as it undermines the authority of the court and the public’s trust in the judicial system. Courts have the inherent power to punish contempt ex facie curiae, and can do so by imposing fines, imprisonment, or both.

Here are some examples of contempt ex facie curiae:

A party to a lawsuit fails to produce documents that they have been ordered to produce.
A witness refuses to testify in court.
A juror discusses the case with someone outside of the courtroom.
A newspaper publishes an article about a pending case that contains prejudicial information.
A lawyer tries to influence a judge by offering them a bribe.
Contempt ex facie curiae is different from contempt in facie curiae, which is contempt that is committed in the presence of the court. Contempt in facie curiae is typically punished summarily, while contempt ex facie curiae requires a more formal hearing.

Courts take contempt ex facie curiae very seriously, as it is essential to the administration of justice that the court’s orders are obeyed and that the public has confidence in the impartiality of the court.