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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4131 (2026)

  Definitions (Reserved).

✓ current as of May 2026
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SUBCHAPTER C

CONTEMPT OF COURT

 

Sec.

4131.  Definitions (Reserved).

4132.  Attachment and summary punishment for contempts.

4133.  Commitment or fine for contempt.

4134.  Commitment for failure to pay fine.

4135.  Publication out of court.

4136.  Rights of persons charged with certain indirect criminal contempts.

4137.  Contempt powers of magisterial district judges.

4138.  Contempt powers of Pittsburgh Magistrates Court.

4139.  Contempt powers of Traffic Court of Philadelphia.

§ 4131.  Definitions (Reserved).

(Dec. 20, 1982, P.L.1409, No.326, eff. 60 days)

 

1982 Amendment.  Act 326 added section 4131 and renumbered former section 4131 to section 4132.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases, 1978–1996 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Martorano, 563 A.2d 1193 (Pa. 1989).
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Commonwealth v. Martorano, 563 A.2d 1193 (Pa. 1989). · cites it 4× “The power to impose summary punishment for contempt is controlled by 42 Pa.C.S. § 4131. That statute provides: *86 The power of the several courts of this Commonwealth to .”
Ricci v. Geary, 670 A.2d 190 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1996). · cites it 3× “The Legislature has authorized the use of summary contempt power through 42 Pa.C.S. § 4131. This statute, in relevant part, states: The power of the several courts of this Commonwealth to issue attachments and to inflict summary punishments for contempts of court shall be…”
Fenstamaker v. Fenstamaker, 487 A.2d 11 (Pa. 1985). · cites it 2× “Following appellant’s testimony, the trial court made findings of fact 2 concerning appellant’s interference with service of process, held him in direct criminal contempt pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 4131(2), and imposed the fine of $1,000, payable within 30 days.”
Commonwealth v. Rubright, 414 A.2d 106 (Pa. 1980). · cites it 2× “It is clear that under the sentencing code a "severe reprimand" falls within the "guilt without penalty" provision. See 18 Pa.C.S. § 1321(a)(2). Thus, the sentence imposed constitutes a final appealable order.”
Commonwealth v. Stevenson, 393 A.2d 386 (Pa. 1978). · cites it 2× “1978), since superseded by Section 722(4) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.”
In Interest of Tasseing H., 422 A.2d 530 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1980). · cites it 2× “53, § 2(a)[152], and reenacted in 42 Pa.C.S. § 4131. [8] 42 Pa.C.S. § 4132(s) (formerly 17 P.”
Matter of Mandell, 414 A.2d 1013 (Pa. 1980). · cites it 2× “challenges his summary conviction for contempt under section II of 42 Pa.C.S. § 4131. Appellant contends that the evidence of record is insufficient to establish that he intentionally or willfully committed the allegedly contemptuous acts.”
Commonwealth v. Owens, 436 A.2d 129 (Pa. 1981). “42 Pa. C.S. § 4131, upon which the contempt judgments rest, provides: “The power of the several courts of this Commonwealth to issue attachments and to inflict summary punishment for contempts of court shall be restricted to the following cases: (3) The misbehavior of any person…”
Matter of James, 470 A.2d 174 (Pa. 1984). · cites it 2× “2d 1303 , for an analysis of when the necessary intent is found in criminal contempt under 42 Pa.C.S. § 4131(2) 3 . In that case this Court reviewed a number of recent contempt appeals and held that the contemnor “can be held, as a matter of law, to have intended the natural…”
Commonwealth v. Restifo, 488 A.2d 633 (Pa. 1985). · cites it 2× “The inherent power of a court to inflict summary punishment for contempt of court is restricted by 42 Pa.C.S. § 4131. The provision pertinent to a decision in this case is contained in Subsection (3), where a direct, criminal contempt is defined as: “The misbehavior of any…”
Commonwealth Ex Rel. Falwell v. Di Giacinto, 471 A.2d 533 (Pa. 1984). “42 Pa.C.S. § 4131, renumbered as 42 Pa.C.”
Guarino v. Larsen, 821 F. Supp. 1040 (E.D. Pa. 1993). · cites it 2× “See 42 Pa. C.S. § 4131(3). 3. He will instruct the individual that a finding that one is guilty of summary contempt of court in open court may subject one to fine or imprisonment.”
Show all 20 citing cases →
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4131(2) — 3 cases
Fenstamaker v. Fenstamaker, 487 A.2d 11 (Pa. 1985). “Following appellant’s testimony, the trial court made findings of fact 2 concerning appellant’s interference with service of process, held him in direct criminal contempt pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 4131(2), and imposed the fine of $1,000, payable within 30 days.”
Matter of James, 470 A.2d 174 (Pa. 1984). “2d 1303 , for an analysis of when the necessary intent is found in criminal contempt under 42 Pa.C.S. § 4131(2) 3 . In that case this Court reviewed a number of recent contempt appeals and held that the contemnor “can be held, as a matter of law, to have intended the natural…”
Commonwealth v. Michel, 522 A.2d 90 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1987).
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4131(3) — 9 cases
Commonwealth v. Rubright, 414 A.2d 106 (Pa. 1980). “It is clear that under the sentencing code a "severe reprimand" falls within the "guilt without penalty" provision. See 18 Pa.C.S. § 1321(a)(2). Thus, the sentence imposed constitutes a final appealable order.”
Commonwealth v. Martorano, 563 A.2d 1193 (Pa. 1989). “The power to impose summary punishment for contempt is controlled by 42 Pa.C.S. § 4131. That statute provides: *86 The power of the several courts of this Commonwealth to .”
Guarino v. Larsen, 821 F. Supp. 1040 (E.D. Pa. 1993). “See 42 Pa. C.S. § 4131(3). 3. He will instruct the individual that a finding that one is guilty of summary contempt of court in open court may subject one to fine or imprisonment.”
Commonwealth v. Collier, 510 A.2d 796 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1986).
Matter of James, 470 A.2d 174 (Pa. 1984). “2d 1303 , for an analysis of when the necessary intent is found in criminal contempt under 42 Pa.C.S. § 4131(2) 3 . In that case this Court reviewed a number of recent contempt appeals and held that the contemnor “can be held, as a matter of law, to have intended the natural…”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4131(h) — 1 case
Ricci v. Geary, 670 A.2d 190 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1996). “The Legislature has authorized the use of summary contempt power through 42 Pa.C.S. § 4131. This statute, in relevant part, states: The power of the several courts of this Commonwealth to issue attachments and to inflict summary punishments for contempts of court shall be…”
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