Where a judge charges a person with contempt in the face of the court, the requirements of natural justice ordinarily require that the person be offered an adjournment and opportunity to take advice before being required to answer the charge, unless there is genuine urgency requiring immediate determination. The failure to offer such an adjournment may vitiate the contempt finding even where the person charged is an experienced barrister who did not request an adjournment. However, there is no absolute rule requiring adjournment in every case.
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