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Contempt of Court Act 2019

Provisions to promote and facilitate administration of justice - Prohibiting publication of false statements about Judge or court, and power to make take-down orders

22: Offence to publish false statement about Judge or court

You could also call this:

"Don't spread false info about judges or courts, or you could get in trouble with the law."

Illustration for Contempt of Court Act 2019

If you publish a false statement about a Judge or court, you can commit an offence. You must know or should reasonably know that the statement could undermine public confidence in the judiciary or a court. There must also be a real risk that the statement could undermine public confidence in the judiciary or a court.

If you commit this offence, you can be liable on conviction. As an individual, you could face up to 6 months in prison or a fine of up to $25,000. As a body corporate, you could face a fine of up to $100,000.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS238628.

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Crime and justice > Criminal lawCrime and justice > Courts and legal help
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Part 2Provisions to promote and facilitate administration of justice
Prohibiting publication of false statements about Judge or court, and power to make take-down orders

22Offence to publish false statement about Judge or court

  1. A person commits an offence if—

  2. the person publishes a false statement about a Judge or court; and
    1. the person knew or ought reasonably to have known that the statement could undermine public confidence in the independence, integrity, impartiality, or authority of the judiciary or a court; and
      1. there is a real risk that the statement could undermine public confidence in the independence, integrity, impartiality, or authority of the judiciary or a court.

        1. A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable on conviction,—

        2. in the case of an individual, to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $25,000:
          1. in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $100,000.