Which term describes a compulsory process to obtain testimony from a witness?

Which term describes a compulsory process to obtain testimony from a witness?

• A. Deposition
• B. Summons
• C. Warrant
• D. Subpoena

Answer: (D)

A subpoena is the formal command that compels a witness to appear and testify, or to produce documents, in a legal proceeding. It is the official mechanism courts and attorneys use to secure sworn testimony when a witness is not willing or required to come forward on their own. A deposition is a related idea but refers to the process of taking sworn testimony outside the courtroom; while it often relies on a subpoena to force attendance, the deposition itself is the method of gathering the testimony, not the compulsory command. A summons serves to require a party to appear in court in a general sense, not specifically to obtain testimony, and a warrant is used for arrest or searches, not for testimony.

A subpoena is the formal command that compels a witness to appear and testify, or to produce documents, in a legal proceeding. It is the official mechanism courts and attorneys use to secure sworn testimony when a witness is not willing or required to come forward on their own. A deposition is a related idea but refers to the process of taking sworn testimony outside the courtroom; while it often relies on a subpoena to force attendance, the deposition itself is the method of gathering the testimony, not the compulsory command. A summons serves to require a party to appear in court in a general sense, not specifically to obtain testimony, and a warrant is used for arrest or searches, not for testimony.