A subpoena is a court order that requires a witness to attend court. You may be subpoenaed as a witness in a criminal case if you were the victim of a crime, saw what happened, or have other information related to a case.
Witness testimony could happen on the date listed on the subpoena but frequently occurs sometime later due to jury selection and court delays.
Many times trials are continued. To inconvenience you as little as possible, call the number at the bottom of your subpoena and provide the office with a daytime phone number where you can be reached if the trial date is continued.
Failure to respond to a subpoena or failure to attend a trial or hearing as required may cause a court to issue a warrant for the arrest of the subpoenaed witness.
Court rules permit the prosecutor or the defendant's attorney to interview any witness, regardless of who issued the subpoena. The witness can set the time and place for the interview so that it is convenient and comfortable for the witness.