SUBPOENA

formal instrument issued by a court, grand jury, legislative body or committee, or a duly authorized administrative agency, commanding an individual to appear before it at a specific time to give testimony, oral or written, for the party named in the document. The subpoena is used only in common-law countries, but it is similar to the citation or vocatio in jus of civil or canon law. A subpoena duces tecum commands the recipient to present in court certain evidence, usually documents or papers, that is necessary to the successful resolution of the controversy.