CA Codes (ccp:177-179)


177.  Every judicial officer shall have power:
   1. To preserve and enforce order in his immediate presence, and in
proceedings before him, when he is engaged in the performance of
official duty;
   2. To compel obedience to his lawful orders as provided in this
Code;
   3. To compel the attendance of persons to testify in a proceeding
before him, in the cases and manner provided in this Code;
   4. To administer oaths to persons in a proceeding pending before
him, and in all other cases where it may be necessary in the exercise
of his powers and duties.

177.5.  A judicial officer shall have the power to impose reasonable
money sanctions, not to exceed fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500),
notwithstanding any other provision of law, payable to the county in
which the judicial officer is located, for any violation of a lawful
court order by a person, done without good cause or substantial
justification.  This power shall not apply to advocacy of counsel
before the court.  For the purposes of this section, the term "person"
includes a witness, a party, a party's attorney, or both.
   Sanctions pursuant to this section shall not be imposed except on
notice contained in a party's moving or responding papers; or on the
court's own motion, after notice and opportunity to be heard.  An
order imposing sanctions shall be in writing and shall recite in
detail the conduct or circumstances justifying the order.

178.  For the effectual exercise of the powers conferred by the last
section, a judicial officer may punish for contempt in the cases
provided in this Code.

179.  Each of the justices of the Supreme Court and of any court of
appeal and the judges of the superior courts, shall have power in any
part of the state to take and certify:
   (a) The proof and acknowledgment of a conveyance of real property,
or of any other written instrument.
   (b) The acknowledgment of satisfaction of a judgment of any court.
   (c) An affidavit or deposition to be used in this state.