subpoena
Compelled testimony writ
A subpoena is a legal document compelling someone to appear in court or produce evidence.
The word comes from Latin meaning "under penalty"—failure to comply can result in contempt charges.
As a verb, to subpoena someone is to serve them with such a document: The committee subpoenaed the CEO's financial records.
Judicial examination of claims
- litigationLegal dispute process
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
defense · attorney · judge · courtroom · jurisdiction · proceedings · case · action
Mention of a source
- serviceAid or maintenance
- serveAttend to needs
- processSteps toward a result
- notificationFormal notice given
appearance · marshal · bailiff · sheriff · witness · recipient · compel · demand
One who attests
- testifyGive sworn evidence
- swornBound by formal promise
- oathFormal binding promise
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
cross-examination · perjury · hearing · examination · questioning · statement · account · recollection
Stored data or albums
- productionMaking or generating something
- discoveryAct of finding something
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- exhibitItem publicly displayed
disclosure · redaction · documents · files · authentication · custodian · business records · electronic records
Adhering to requirements
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- requirementMandatory condition to fulfill
- dutyRequired moral task
enforcement · contempt · sanction · binding · legal duty · consequence · accountability · noncompliance
trial
Judicial examination of claims
- litigationLegal dispute process
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
prosecution · defense · attorney · judge · courtroom · jurisdiction · proceedings · case · action · hearing
citation
Mention of a source
notification · appearance · marshal · bailiff · sheriff · witness · recipient · compel · demand · command
witness
One who attests
deposition · cross-examination · perjury · hearing · examination · questioning · statement · account · recollection · corroborate
records
Stored data or albums
- productionMaking or generating something
- discoveryAct of finding something
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
exhibit · disclosure · redaction · documents · files · authentication · custodian · business records · electronic records · preservation
compliance
Adhering to requirements
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- requirementMandatory condition to fulfill
duty · enforcement · contempt · sanction · binding · legal duty · consequence · accountability · noncompliance
- court proceedingstrial, arraignment, verdict, hearing, testimony
- hearingscongressional hearing, congressional hearings, committee hearing, confirmation hearing, public hearings
- legal filingswrit, motion, appeal, complaint, brief
- prosecutionprosecutor, district attorney, DA, prosecution, public prosecutors
- court filingscomplaint, motion to dismiss, counterclaim, pleading, cross-claim
- writscertiorari, mandamus, habeas corpus, prohibition, replevin
subpoenarequest
Formal act of seeking
invitation · suggestion · entreaty · plea · waiver
subpoenaimmunity
Protected from harm
privilege · right to silence · gag order · protective order · quashing
- subpoena powerAuthority to compel testimony