Explanatory Notes

Crime and Courts Act 2013

2013 CHAPTER 22

25 April 2013

Commentary on Sections

Part 2: Courts and Justice

Section 33: Abolition of scandalising the judiciary as a form of contempt of court

470.Subsection (1) abolishes the common law offence of scandalising the judiciary (also referred to as scandalising the court or scandalising judges) as a form of contempt of court in England and Wales.

471.Subsection (2) clarifies that conduct that is contempt of court (such as abuse of a judge in the face of the court or that otherwise interferes with particular proceedings) and that would also have been scandalising the judiciary remains contempt of court.