Subpoena
noun
A legal document ordering someone to attend court.
The witness was served with a subpoena to appear in court.
Often appears as...
- serve a subpoena
- issue a subpoena
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
verb
To order someone to attend court.
The prosecution subpoenaed the witness to ensure her attendance at the trial.
Often appears as...
- subpoena someone
- subpoena records
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
noun
A legal document ordering someone to attend court.
The witness was served with a subpoena to appear in court.
Often appears as...
- serve a subpoena
- issue a subpoena
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
verb
To order someone to attend court.
The prosecution subpoenaed the witness to ensure her attendance at the trial.
Often appears as...
- subpoena someone
- subpoena records
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Mandatory Appearance
A subpoena is not just an invitation; it's a legal requirement to appear in court or provide evidence.
Ignoring a subpoena can lead to legal penalties.
Pro Tip 2/3Authority Source
Subpoenas are typically issued by a court or a governmental body with legal authority.
The court issued a subpoena for the financial records.
Pro Tip 3/3Civil/Criminal Cases
Subpoenas are used in both civil lawsuits and criminal cases for securing witnesses or evidence.
He received a subpoena in a civil suit regarding contract disputes.
Pro Tip 1/3Mandatory Appearance
A subpoena is not just an invitation; it's a legal requirement to appear in court or provide evidence.
Ignoring a subpoena can lead to legal penalties.
Pro Tip 2/3Authority Source
Subpoenas are typically issued by a court or a governmental body with legal authority.
The court issued a subpoena for the financial records.
Pro Tip 3/3Civil/Criminal Cases
Subpoenas are used in both civil lawsuits and criminal cases for securing witnesses or evidence.
He received a subpoena in a civil suit regarding contract disputes.
Pro Tip 1/3Mandatory Appearance
A subpoena is not just an invitation; it's a legal requirement to appear in court or provide evidence.
Ignoring a subpoena can lead to legal penalties.
Pro Tip 2/3Authority Source
Subpoenas are typically issued by a court or a governmental body with legal authority.
The court issued a subpoena for the financial records.
Pro Tip 3/3Civil/Criminal Cases
Subpoenas are used in both civil lawsuits and criminal cases for securing witnesses or evidence.
He received a subpoena in a civil suit regarding contract disputes.
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Video examples
What is McCarthyism? And...
and thousands of other public and private employers were imposing the same political tests on the men and women who worked for them. Meanwhile, Congress conducted its own witchhunt subpoenaing hundreds of people to testify before investigative bodies
Video examples
Taboo to You: Penis vs....
the animal penis why well I guess just because it's a penis you know I I don't know how to put a finer point on that which do you think is more taboo I think with you probably the peanut why subpoenas I have to go with the penis
Video examples
What is McCarthyism? And...
and thousands of other public and private employers were imposing the same political tests on the men and women who worked for them. Meanwhile, Congress conducted its own witchhunt subpoenaing hundreds of people to testify before investigative bodies
Video examples
Taboo to You: Penis vs....
the animal penis why well I guess just because it's a penis you know I I don't know how to put a finer point on that which do you think is more taboo I think with you probably the peanut why subpoenas I have to go with the penis
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Jonathan Zittrain
American Educator
The increasing legal pressure against archives has created anxieties among researchers, librarians, and journalists. They cite the need to protect sources who wish to make a record for posterity; procuring documents and interviews from those sources will be difficult if the fruits are only one subpoena away from disclosure.
Quote examples
Michael Isikoff
American Journalist
You know, this is - one can imagine how life would be different if one body of Congress was controlled by the other party, there would be subpoena power and there would be all - mechanisms to get to the bottom of all sorts of issues of controversy.
Quote examples
Kayleigh McEnany
American Public Servant
The Democrats have shown little interest in legislating, but unlimited interested in investigating every aspect of President Trump's life. It's a wonder they haven't subpoenaed his elementary school report cards.
Quote examples
William Pepper
American Scientist
He exists and we have four people who identified him and I know who he is, where he is, what his phone number is, everything about him that one needs. All I need is a criminal trial so I can have him subpoenaed.
Quote examples
Richard Painter
American Lawyer
Donald Trump wants to ignore the rule of law. He ignores the Constitution. He ignores the subpoenas. The Republicans in the House and Senate are afraid to stand up to him, with only a few exceptions.
Quote examples
Jeb Bush
American Politician
I released 34 years of tax returns and 300,000 e-mails in my government record. To get the information from Hillary Clinton, you need to get a subpoena from the FBI.
Quote examples
Christopher Buckley
American Novelist
The laws have become so straight-jacketing that presidents and their aides dare not keep journals or diaries, lest they be subpoenaed by avid special prosecutors.
Quote examples
Sal Albanese
American Politician
If the City Council wants to hold the police accountable, it has the subpoena power and oversight responsibility to do so. They don't have the courage to do it.
Quote examples
Sharice Davids
American Politician
In this country, if you are supposed to show up in court and you don't go, there are real consequences. A subpoena from Congress is no different.
Quote examples
Ted Cruz
American Politician
When you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.
Quote examples
Jonathan Zittrain
American Educator
The increasing legal pressure against archives has created anxieties among researchers, librarians, and journalists. They cite the need to protect sources who wish to make a record for posterity; procuring documents and interviews from those sources will be difficult if the fruits are only one subpoena away from disclosure.
Quote examples
Michael Isikoff
American Journalist
You know, this is - one can imagine how life would be different if one body of Congress was controlled by the other party, there would be subpoena power and there would be all - mechanisms to get to the bottom of all sorts of issues of controversy.
Quote examples
Kayleigh McEnany
American Public Servant
The Democrats have shown little interest in legislating, but unlimited interested in investigating every aspect of President Trump's life. It's a wonder they haven't subpoenaed his elementary school report cards.
Quote examples
William Pepper
American Scientist
He exists and we have four people who identified him and I know who he is, where he is, what his phone number is, everything about him that one needs. All I need is a criminal trial so I can have him subpoenaed.
Quote examples
Richard Painter
American Lawyer
Donald Trump wants to ignore the rule of law. He ignores the Constitution. He ignores the subpoenas. The Republicans in the House and Senate are afraid to stand up to him, with only a few exceptions.
Quote examples
Jeb Bush
American Politician
I released 34 years of tax returns and 300,000 e-mails in my government record. To get the information from Hillary Clinton, you need to get a subpoena from the FBI.
Quote examples
Christopher Buckley
American Novelist
The laws have become so straight-jacketing that presidents and their aides dare not keep journals or diaries, lest they be subpoenaed by avid special prosecutors.
Quote examples
Sal Albanese
American Politician
If the City Council wants to hold the police accountable, it has the subpoena power and oversight responsibility to do so. They don't have the courage to do it.
Quote examples
Sharice Davids
American Politician
In this country, if you are supposed to show up in court and you don't go, there are real consequences. A subpoena from Congress is no different.
Quote examples
Ted Cruz
American Politician
When you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.
Example 1 of 10
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