You hear a loud knock on your front door. Moments later, you’re served with a subpoena to appear to testify at a grand jury, a hearing, or a trial. The subpoena may be in a federal or state case, and it may be issued by the prosecution or by the accused in a criminal case.
Who Can Be Subpoenaed as a Witness?
Anyone who may have evidence relevant to a pending criminal case may receive a witness subpoena. Accordingly, you may receive a subpoena if you:
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- Participated in events related to the case
- Saw or witnessed events related to the case
- Have documents or other evidence related to the case
- Had conversations with parties involved in the case that are relevant to the case
If you are subpoenaed, then you need to know what to do next.
What to Do After You Get a Witness Subpoena
The first step upon receiving a subpoena is to figure out what the subpoena is for and why you are being summoned as a witness. The subpoena will tell you whether you are being subpoenaed as a witness for:
- The Commonwealth of Virginia
- A city, county, or town within the Commonwealth of Virginia
- The defendant
- A juvenile
Additionally, the form will indicate the name of the person requesting the subpoena. Some of the questions you might consider when you receive a subpoena include:
- Is this a traffic case for which you are being subpoenaed as an eyewitness to a traffic accident?
- Is it a federal investigative grand jury?
- Is it a state grand jury or multijurisdictional grand jury?
- Who is the defendant in the case?
- What is your involvement or role in the case that led to the issuance of the subpoena?
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These questions will help determine what you do next.
Don’t Ignore a Witness Subpoena
A witness subpoena is a court order requiring you to appear at the stated place and time, even if you do not see a judge’s signature on the document.
That means failure to comply with the subpoena could subject you to a show cause hearing—where you will be summoned before the judge to explain your failure to appear or even to punishment for contempt of court. Thus, ignoring the subpoena is not an option.
However, if you have suffered physical, psychological, or economic harm because of a felony, assault and battery, stalking, S.E.Xual battery, attempted S.E.Xual battery, driving while intoxicated, or violation of a protective order, then you may have additional rights and protections if you are called as a witness. These rights and protections include:
- Protection through witness protection programs
- Separate waiting areas in court, where available
- Financial assistance through Crime Victim’s Compensation
- Employer intercession services to minimize lost income from court appearances
- Notices of court proceedings, appeals, and a convicted assailant’s releases or escapes from jail, upon your written request
- Courtroom assistance such as interpreter services or keeping your address, telephone number, and place of employment confidential upon your written request
- Providing a written victim impact statement after a defendant’s conviction
Do You Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
In most cases, a subpoenaed witness will likely not need the assistance of an attorney.
However, in certain cases, the witness may be subjecting himself to criminal liability by appearing and testifying under oath. For example, a witness who was involved in a criminal enterprise but has not been charged may be subpoenaed to testify against another defendant. This witness may incriminate himself while testifying, which could later be used to bring charges against him. Other times, a witness may have previously provided inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading information to law enforcement. In this case, testifying truthfully under oath may subject the witness to charges of obstruction of justice, while lying under oath to avoid charges of obstruction of justice may subject him to a felony perjury charge. In these circumstances, the subpoenaed witness likely has a right under the Fifth Amendment not to testify in order to avoid self-incrimination.
How an Attorney May Help You
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In appropriate cases, an experienced attorney may be able to negotiate an immunity agreement with the prosecutors in exchange for your testimony. Such an agreement would protect you from the direct use of your testimony or pre-testimony statements being used against you in the future, subject to limited exceptions that would be clearly stated in the immunity agreement.
Additionally, even if no immunity agreement is reached with the prosecutors, or if the subpoena is issued by a defendant in a criminal case, an attorney can appear in court with you and assert your Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination on your behalf. If done properly, this will ensure that you are not compelled to answer questions that could incriminate you.
In short, if you receive a witness subpoena in a criminal case and you have any concerns about the possible repercussions of testifying, you should immediately consult an experienced criminal defense attorney to evaluate the circumstances and advise you on how to proceed. It is also advisable not to speak with investigators, prosecutors, or attorneys for other parties before consulting your own attorney.
If you have been issued a witness subpoena and have questions about the potential consequences of your testimony, contact an experienced Fairfax criminal defense attorney at Greenspun Shapiro PC today.
Related Links:
- The FBI Is at the Door! What Do I Do?
- Your Fifth Amendment Protection Against Self-Incrimination
- What Are My Rights to Discovery in a Criminal Case in Virginia?
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