I Got a Subpoena; Am I Too Far Away? Do I Get Witness Fees?

If you live outside of California and you receive a subpoena or SDT, the attorney better have complied with the Uniform Act to Secure the Attendance of Witnesses from Without the State in Criminal Cases (Penal Code §§ 1334 – 1334.6). As with a witness who lives more than 150 miles from the courthouse, only a judge can authorize an effort to bring in a witness to court who is outside California. Penal Code § 1334.2; People v. Cavanaugh (1968) 69 Cal.2d 262, 266, 70 Cal.Rptr. 438. Subpoenaed out-of-state witnesses are otherwise exempt from arrest or service of a civil or criminal subpoena. Penal Code § 1334.5. To evaluate if the subpoena or SDT so complies, it is best to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney in your area to examine the document you received.

In contrast, if one is a witness in California and the witness receives a subpoena to testify out-of-state, the party outside California should set a hearing under the Uniform Act to Secure the Attendance of Witnesses from Without the State in Criminal Cases. The hearing is supposed to be set in the county where the witness resides in California. A judge in California then decides if the subpoena is enforceable and will issue. The same judge can also decide to take the witness into custody (Penal Code § 1334.3), so it may be prudent to retain experienced criminal defense counsel to represent you at such a hearing. The judge can also order the party outside California to pay the witness’ “witness fees” and additional reimbursement for other expenses associated with attending court out-of-state. Penal Code §§ 1334.2 and 1334.3.

Such witness fees are governed by Penal Code § 1329. Under this code section, the judge has the discretion to grant $12 per day for each day the witness attends court, as well a reasonable sum for necessary expenses (mileage most commonly), and, if the witness is employed, up to $18 per day rather than $12 per day if the employer does not pay the employee’s wages for time lost because of the employee’s appearance in court.

Such fees are paid for by the county, not the party. They are charged against the same fund as jurors’ fees in criminal cases. Government Code § 68098; C.C.P. § 215 (jurors’ fees).

Be careful in requesting additional expenses. The judge, in a criminal case, does not have the power to order a party to pay additional compensation to a witness as a sanction for the party’s abuse of process. Fabricant v. Superior Court (1980) 104 Cal.App.3d 905, 163 Cal.Rptr. 894. In other words, it is a waste of time and a good way to lose credibility with the judge to ask the judge to order extra compensation because you feel you are being dragged into court to hassle or annoy you.

It is notable, lastly, that when the judge does not order either the prosecution or the defense to pay the reasonable expenses of a witness, it seems permissible for the prosecution or the defense attorney to pay the reasonable costs of travel and lodging. However, an unreasonable expenditure of money to a witness obviously subjects the witness to impeachment under Evidence Code § 780(f) as being bribed or unduly influenced by the monetary compensation paid to him or her.

For more information about appearing in court, please click on the following articles:

1. I Received a Supoena - What Should I Do? Ignore It?
2. Carefully Invoke Your Fifth Amendment Right to Remain Silent
3. What Should I Wear and Bring to Court?
   

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