A Washington Contempt Hearing Order is a court order issued by a judge in the state of Washington that requires a person to appear in court and respond to allegations of civil or criminal contempt. The order is usually issued when a person has failed to obey a court order or failed to comply with a court's instructions. There are two types of Washington Contempt Hearing Orders: civil and criminal. In a civil contempt hearing, the court is seeking to enforce a court order or enforce a settlement agreement, while in a criminal contempt hearing, the court is determining whether a person has violated a lawful court order or instruction. Both types of contempt hearing orders require the accused to appear in court and answer questions about the alleged contempt. The court may also order sanctions or penalties for the accused if found guilty of contempt.