Massachusetts General Laws
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 276, § 26 (2026)
Failure to appear and abide orders as contempt
✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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Section 26. If a defendant so summoned fails, without reasonable cause, to appear and abide the orders of the court or justice, he shall be considered in contempt of court, and may be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars. A warrant, if necessary, may be issued at any time after the issue of such summons, whether it has been served or not.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1
case, 1976–1976 · leading case: Pollard v. Panora, 411 F. Supp. 580 (D. Mass. 1976).
Pollard v. Panora, 411 F. Supp. 580 (D. Mass. 1976). “§ 402 , or “without reasonable cause,” Mass. Gen.L. c. 276, § 26. Beyond this, the court has at its disposal an extremely effective remedy which can be used against persons who flout summonses.”
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