Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-9-102 (2026)

Scope of power

✓ current as of May 2026

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The power of the several courts to issue attachments, and inflict punishments for contempts of court, shall not be construed to extend to any except the following cases:

(1) The willful misbehavior of any person in the presence of the court, or so near thereto as to obstruct the administration of justice;

(2) The willful misbehavior of any of the officers of such courts, in their official transactions;

(3) The willful disobedience or resistance of any officer of the such courts, party, juror, witness, or any other person, to any lawful writ, process, order, rule, decree, or command of such courts;

(4) Abuse of, or unlawful interference with, the process or proceedings of the court;

(5) Willfully conversing with jurors in relation to the merits of the cause in the trial of which they are engaged, or otherwise tampering with them; or

(6) Any other act or omission declared a contempt by law.

Code 1858, § 4106 (deriv. Acts 1831, ch. 19, § 1); Shan., § 5918; Code 1932, § 10119; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 23-902.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 232 cases (24 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: Tracy Rose Baker v. State of Tennessee, 417 S.W.3d 428 (Tenn. 2013).

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Tracy Rose Baker v. State of Tennessee, 417 S.W.3d 428 (Tenn. 2013). · cites it 29× “Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-9-102 (2012). Contempt proceedings are sui generis and are incidental to the case out of which they arise.”

Ahern v. Ahern, 15 S.W.3d 73 (Tenn. 2000). · cites it 30× “We granted this appeal to determine: 1) whether the constitutional protections against double jeopardy prevented the defendant’s retrial for criminal contempt after testimony had been taken by one judge and the case was then transferred to a second judge; and 2) whether the…”

Lisa E. Burris v. James Morton Burris, 512 S.W.3d 239 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 18× “”) (citing Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-9-102 ). 5 In the context of a failure to pay child support or uncovered medical expenses, in order for Mother’s failure to be willful, she must have had “the ability to pay child support at the time it was due.”

State of Tennessee v. James Beeler, 387 S.W.3d 511 (Tenn. 2012). · cites it 30× “attachments, and inflict punishments for contempts of court, shall not be construed to extend to any except the following cases: (1) The willful misbehavior of any person in the presence of the court, or so near thereto as to obstruct the administration of justice; (2) The…”

Konvalinka v. Chattanooga-Hamilton Cnty. Hosp. Auth., 249 S.W.3d 346 (Tenn. 2008). · cites it 7× “Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-9-107 is derived from the Code of 1858 § 1727.”

Outdoor Mgmt., LLC v. Thomas, 249 S.W.3d 368 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 8× “However, a court’s authority to hold a party in contempt is limited to the conduct described in T.C.A. § 29-9-102 (2000). See Black v. Blount, 938 S.”

Doe v. Bd. of Prof'l Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, 104 S.W.3d 465 (Tenn. 2003). · cites it 6× “However, courts may only punish as contemptuous the types of acts described in Tennessee Code Annotated section 29-9-102. See Black, 938 S.W.2d at 397-98 ; State v.”

Black v. Blount, 938 S.W.2d 394 (Tenn. 1996). · cites it 6× “Conduct punishable as contempt in Tennessee now is delineated in Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-9-102 (1980 Repl.) which provides: The power of the several courts to issue attachments, and inflict punishments for contempts of court, shall not be construed to extend to any except the…”

Kisha Dean Trezevant v. Stanley H. Trezevant, III, 568 S.W.3d 595 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 4× “Tennessee Code Annotated section 29-9-102 sets forth the scope of a court’s power to hold a person in civil or criminal contempt: The power of the several courts to issue attachments, and inflict punishments for contempts of court, shall not be construed to extend to any except…”

State ex. rel. Flowers v. Tennessee Trucking Ass'n Self Ins. Grp. Trust, 209 S.W.3d 602 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 6× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-9-102 (2000); see also Black v.”

Overnite Transp. Co. v. Teamsters Local Union No. 480, 172 S.W.3d 507 (Tenn. 2005). · cites it 6× “Tennessee Code Annotated section 29-9-102 (1980, 2000) provides the following: The power of the several courts to issue attachments, and inflict punishments for contempts of court, shall not be construed to extend to any except the following cases: [[Image here]] (3) The willful…”

State v. Sammons, 656 S.W.2d 862 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1982). · cites it 8× “§ 36-835 authorizes incarceration of up to six months for failure to follow a support order, the only contempt power conferred upon the trial court for infractions of visitation and custody orders is found in T.C.A. § 29-9-102. T.C.A. § 29-9-103 limits the maximum fine imposable…”

Show all 232 citing cases →

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-9-102(1) — 12 cases

State of Tennessee v. James Beeler, 387 S.W.3d 511 (Tenn. 2012). “attachments, and inflict punishments for contempts of court, shall not be construed to extend to any except the following cases: (1) The willful misbehavior of any person in the presence of the court, or so near thereto as to obstruct the administration of justice; (2) The…”

Black v. Blount, 938 S.W.2d 394 (Tenn. 1996). “Conduct punishable as contempt in Tennessee now is delineated in Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-9-102 (1980 Repl.) which provides: The power of the several courts to issue attachments, and inflict punishments for contempts of court, shall not be construed to extend to any except the…”

Moody v. Hutchison, 159 S.W.3d 15 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004).

State v. Turner, 914 S.W.2d 951 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).

In Re Joseph Brown, 470 S.W.3d 433 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2015).

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-9-102(2) — 1 case

In re Saperstein, 811 S.W.2d 900 (Tenn. 1991).

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-9-102(3) — 64 cases

Konvalinka v. Chattanooga-Hamilton Cnty. Hosp. Auth., 249 S.W.3d 346 (Tenn. 2008). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 29-9-107 is derived from the Code of 1858 § 1727.”

Ahern v. Ahern, 15 S.W.3d 73 (Tenn. 2000). “We granted this appeal to determine: 1) whether the constitutional protections against double jeopardy prevented the defendant’s retrial for criminal contempt after testimony had been taken by one judge and the case was then transferred to a second judge; and 2) whether the…”

Outdoor Mgmt., LLC v. Thomas, 249 S.W.3d 368 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “However, a court’s authority to hold a party in contempt is limited to the conduct described in T.C.A. § 29-9-102 (2000). See Black v. Blount, 938 S.”

Overnite Transp. Co. v. Teamsters Local Union No. 480, 172 S.W.3d 507 (Tenn. 2005). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 29-9-102 (1980, 2000) provides the following: The power of the several courts to issue attachments, and inflict punishments for contempts of court, shall not be construed to extend to any except the following cases: [[Image here]] (3) The willful…”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-9-102(3)(2009) — 1 case

In the matter of: Sydney T. C. H. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010).

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-9-102(6) — 1 case

Steven B. Dargi & Andrea L. Dargi v. The Terminix Int'l Co., State of Tennessee - Concurring, 23 S.W.3d 342 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000).

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