No court or judge shall impose a fine upon a juror, witness or other person for disobedience of its process or any contempt, unless he either be present in court at the time, or shall have been served with a rule, returnable to a certain time, requiring him to show cause why the fine should not be imposed and shall have failed to appear and show cause.

History

Code 1950, § 19.1-16; 1960, c. 366; 1968, c. 639; 1975, c. 495.