Subpoenas

A subpoena is a legal document order issued by the supreme court. It requests either the production of documents, a court appearance, or other legal proceedings. It is a court order that requires someone to testify or present information that may help shed light on issues in a pending criminal case. Individuals can also use this legal process in a civil case.

According to state law, one must deliver a subpoena in person. In some cases, this is done by one of the parties or by anyone over 18.

When someone receives a subpoena to appear in court, they will often receive an attendance fee and transportation costs. These costs come from the pocket of the person who delivered that notice.

A subpoena and a summons are similar since they both give notice about a court proceeding. What causes most people to think they are the same thing is that people consider both a demand from the court.

But, while a summons marks the beginning of a court case, a subpoena comes after commencement of the case and legally requires the person who receives it to take the steps included therein.

As earlier discussed, a subpoena is a court order requiring a person to go to court for a deposition or provide evidence or documents. On the other hand, a summons, also known as a citation, is the official notice. The court issues it to the person the plaintiff is suing, requiring them to appear in court for civil or criminal cases.

The difference between a subpoena and a summons include:

• Who they are given to
• When they are given
• What their use is

New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a real-life example of subpoenas to former president Donald Trump. Also receiving subpoenas were his two children, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump. New York state Attorney General Leticia James' office said in the filing that it was seeking testimony and documents from the three in connection with an investigation into the valuation of properties owned and controlled by former president Donald Trump and the Trump Organization.

There are three main subpoena forms. The production of documents each serves its unique purpose.

• Subpoena ad testificandum. This is also known as a Witness Subpoena. This court order requires a person to appear in court and testify as a witness. This usually happens in a trial.
• A Subpoena Duces Tecum is a court order requiring someone to produce books, documents, or other records under their control in a court hearing or a deposition.

Compliance is also achieved through mailing or sending records via email. If arranged in advance, one could provide documents at a specified date without an in-person appearance as per their constitutional rights.

• A Deposition Subpoena is an order from the court requiring a person who is not a party to a civil case to provide copies of business records or appear at a deposition to answer any questions asked by a party in a civil investigation.

In this type of subpoena, the documents and testimonies requested are part of the "discovery process"  and are not used in the actual court hearing.

The issuance of a subpoena can happen for the following different reasons:

• Inquest proceedings. This is an inquiry to confirm the facts relating to someone's death. The purpose of an inquest is to learn who the deceased person was. It also gathers information on how, when, and where they died and provides the details needed for death registration.
• Criminal proceedings. This refers to the adjudication process of a country's criminal law. It forms part of procedural or adjectival law and describes how its substantive counterpart is applied. In addition, criminal procedure protects the rights of the defendant.
• Civil proceedings. A civil procedure sets out the rules and standards that courts follow when adjudicating civil lawsuits. These rules govern how a case or criminal investigation may commence and what kind of service is required.
• Professional conduct hearings. These are hearings that are held for a variety of serious professional misconduct. A professional conduct panel listens to information provided in the hearing and decides whether the allegations have been proven.

Some of the most common requests for a subpoena include:

• Blood test information
• DNA samples
• Computer files and downloaded material
• Medical bills
• Insurance records
• Income tax returns
• Photographs, graphs, and charts
• Employee records

To subpoena documents or request evidence from someone, one should:

• Request permission to file the civil subpoena
• Go through the appropriate court filing
• Serve the notice on the receiving individual
• The receiving party attends the court on a specified date
• The individual will then present evidence or produce documents
• Proof of service is issued once they have fulfilled their duties as a witness

According to state and federal civil or criminal procedural laws, subpoenas offer attorneys a chance to gain information to help prove or disprove their clients' cases.

Criminal attorneys use subpoenas to obtain witness or lay opinion testimony from a third party. This helps to prove someone's guilt or innocence at trial. Civil attorneys subpoena individuals to get information that may help settle someone's claim.

An attorney can issue a subpoena on behalf of the court, court clerk, notary public, or justice of the peace.

If a high-level government official receives a subpoena, an administrative law judge must sign it. In some cases, someone who doesn't have a law degree may issue this legal process if acting on their behalf.

After an attorney requests a subpoena, a court clerk, notary public, or justice of the peace issues it. This legal service can happen as soon as it's received. It happens in one of the following ways:

• Hand-delivery (personal service of the subpoena)
• Emailed using the last known email address of the individual
• Certified mailing to the last known address
• Where the person served hears the subpoena read out to them aloud

Firstly, a person served with a subpoena has to acknowledge it. Failure to respond is often considered contempt of court in most states.

The next step would be to read through the subpoena to determine what is requested, who needs to appear in court, and why they are required. Service requests for documents and other items are very detailed and specific. It is essential to ensure the safety of these documents.

Lastly, the person receiving the subpoena should note who is requesting the information and the purpose of the data. This can help them adequately prepare for any testimony at trial or other proceedings.

A person who receives a subpoena should consult an attorney who can answer their questions or assist them if they need more time to gather information.

Someone who receives a subpoena but fails to comply with its terms may be subject to civil or criminal penalties. This includes fines, jail time, or both.

The federal court will hold a hearing where the party charged with noncompliance has an opportunity to spell out their side of the story. The court then has broad discretion to determine the appropriate punishment given the circumstances.

In extreme cases, the grand jury process is involved. In most cases, the court determines the appropriateness of withholding any documents under a claim of privilege.