# Contumacy

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{{short description|Stubborn refusal to obey authority}}
'''Contumacy''' is a stubborn refusal to obey authority or, particularly in [law](/source/law), the willful contempt of the order or [summons](/source/summons) of a court (see [contempt of court](/source/contempt_of_court)). Etymologists derive the term from the [Latin](/source/Latin_language) word {{lang | la | contumacia}}, meaning "firmness" or "stubbornness".{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In [English](/source/Canon_law_(Anglican_Communion)) [ecclesiastical law](/source/ecclesiastical_law), contumacy was contempt of the authority of an [ecclesiastical court](/source/ecclesiastical_court) and was dealt with by the issue of a [writ](/source/writ) from the [Court of Chancery](/source/Court_of_Chancery) at the instance of the judge of the ecclesiastical court. This writ took the place of the {{lang | la | [de excommunicato capiendo](/source/Writ_De_Excommunicato_Capiendo_Act_1562)}} in 1813, by an act of [George III](/source/George_III_of_the_United_Kingdom) (see [excommunication](/source/excommunication)).{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In the U.S., while contumacy was not expressly mentioned in the [U.S. Constitution](/source/U.S._Constitution), the courts have long asserted an inherent power of judges to punish such refusal, which in this context is known as ''[contempt of court](/source/contempt_of_court)''.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} The [U.S. Supreme Court](/source/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States), in ''[obiter dicta](/source/obiter_dicta)'', recognized federal courts' inherent power to imprison a person for contumacy in 1812 in ''[United States v. Hudson & Goodwin](/source/United_States_v._Hudson_%26_Goodwin)'' without a reference to a definition of contumacy in common or statutory law.<ref>[http://supreme.justia.com/us/11/32/case.html United States v. Hudson & Goodwin], 11 U.S. (7 Cranch) 32 - "The courts of the United States [...] have the power to fine for contempts, to imprison for contumacy, and to enforce the observance of their orders."
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== See also ==

* [Court-martial](/source/Court-martial)
* [Dishonesty](/source/Dishonesty)
* [Insubordination](/source/Insubordination)
* [Failure to obey a police order](/source/Failure_to_obey_a_police_order)
* [Mutiny](/source/Mutiny)
* [Rebellion](/source/Rebellion)
* [Trial in absentia](/source/Trial_in_absentia)
* [Whistle blower](/source/Whistle_blower)

==References==
{{reflist}}
'''Attribution:'''
*{{EB1911|wstitle=Contumacy|volume=7|page=45}}

== External links ==
{{wiktionary | contumacy}}
* [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/contumacy Contumacy] at Wiktionary

==Further reading==
*{{Cite Catholic Encyclopedia|last=Driscoll |first=James H. |wstitle=Contumacy (in Canon Law) |volume=4}}

Category:Canon law of the Anglican Communion

{{law-term-stub}}

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