Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2023 | Updated by FindLaw Staff
A. Whenever the legislature or either house of the legislature, or whenever any committee of either house or any joint committee of both houses or any sub-committee of any such committee, which committee, joint committee or sub-committee has been specifically and expressly granted the subpoena power, has summoned any person as a witness to give testimony or to produce papers or other evidence upon any matter under inquiry before such house, committee, joint committee or sub-committee, such person shall be guilty of contempt of the legislature if he or she
(1) willfully defaults by failing to appear or to produce papers or other evidence, as ordered, or
(2) having appeared, refuses to take the oath or affirmation of a witness, or
(3) having appeared, refuses to answer any question pertinent to the question under inquiry.
B. Whoever is found guilty of contempt of the legislature under the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
C. The provisions of R.S. 24:4 through R.S. 24:6 are hereby declared to be supplemental to the powers of the legislature and of the senate and of the house of representatives to punish for contempt, and the legislature hereby reserves to itself and to the senate and to the house of representatives all inherent and all constitutional powers to punish for contempt.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 24, § 4. Contempt of the legislature; penalties - last updated January 01, 2023 | https://codes.findlaw.com/la/revised-statutes/la-rev-stat-tit-24-sect-4/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)