Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
A court of the United States shall have power to punish by fine or imprisonment, or both, at its discretion, such contempt of its authority, and none other, as—
(1) Misbehavior of any person in its presence or so near thereto as to obstruct the administration of justice;
(2) Misbehavior of any of its officers in their official transactions;
(3) Disobedience or resistance to its lawful writ, process, order, rule, decree, or command.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 701 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title III, §3002(a)(1), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1805.)
Simplified explanation
Federal courts may punish contempt (disrespecting or disobeying the court). This covers misbehavior in or near the court that disrupts justice, misconduct by court officers in their duties, and disobeying or resisting a lawful court order.