Increases the maximum fine for criminal contempt of court to $1,000, from $250.
It is rare, legal experts said, for a lawyer to be held in criminal contempt.
He refused to answer questions before a grand jury and was charged with criminal contempt of court.
And so federal prosecutors asked the judge to find them in criminal contempt.
Nifong was found guilty of criminal contempt and served one day in jail.
They noted that the maximum fines for criminal contempt were established in 1909.
The prisoner, who had been charged with assault and criminal contempt, was supposed to be under suicide watch.
He was later released and indicted on criminal contempt of court.
He could also be separately prosecuted for criminal contempt.
The maximum sentence for criminal contempt is two years.
