Obstruction of court orders
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, by threats or force, prevents, obstructs, impedes, or interferes with, or to prevent, obstruct, impede, or interfere with, the due exercise of rights or the performance of duties under any order, judgment, or decree of a court of the United States, shall be or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
No injunctive or other civil relief against the conduct made criminal by this section shall be denied on the ground that such conduct is a crime.
History: (Added Pub. L. 86–449, title I, §101, May 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 86 (PDF, 1.3 MB); amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to use threats or force to block or interfere with anyone carrying out or exercising rights under a federal court order, judgment, or decree. Trying to do so is also a crime. Courts can still issue civil orders to stop this conduct even though it is a crime.