(a) General rule.--Publication out of court respecting the conduct of judges, magisterial district judges, other system or related personnel, jurors or participants in connection with any matter pending before any tribunal shall not be construed as a contempt of court on the part of the author, publisher or other person connected with such publication.
(b) Civil and criminal liability not affected.--If any publication specified in subsection (a) shall improperly tend to bias the minds of the public, or of the tribunal, other system or related personnel, jurors or participants in connection with any matter pending before any tribunal, any person aggrieved thereby may proceed against the persons responsible for the publication by appropriate civil action or criminal proceeding.
(Dec. 20, 1982, P.L.1409, No.326, eff. 60 days; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days)
2004 Amendment. Act 207 amended subsec. (a). See section 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to construction of law.
1982 Amendment. Act 326 amended and renumbered section 4134 to section 4135 and renumbered former section 4135 to section 4136.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 42 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
Chapter 41 - Administration of Justice
Section 4101 - Coordination of activities
Section 4102 - Liability insurance for district justices (Repealed)
Section 4121 - Assignment of judges
Section 4122 - Assignment of magisterial district judges
Section 4123 - Assignment procedure
Section 4124 - Assignment of senior Philadelphia Municipal Court judges
Section 4131 - Definitions (Reserved)
Section 4132 - Attachment and summary punishment for contempts
Section 4133 - Commitment or fine for contempt
Section 4134 - Commitment for failure to pay fine
Section 4135 - Publication out of court
Section 4136 - Rights of persons charged with certain indirect criminal contempts
Section 4137 - Contempt powers of magisterial district judges
Section 4138 - Contempt powers of Pittsburgh Magistrates Court
Section 4139 - Contempt powers of Traffic Court of Philadelphia