VIRGIN ISLANDS RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Rule 17. Subpoena

• Jurisdiction: United States

Rule 17. Subpoena

(a) Content. A subpoena must state the court's name and the title of the proceedings, include the seal of the court, and command the witness to attend and testify at the time and place the subpoena specifies. The clerk of court must issue a subpoena, signed but otherwise in blank, to a party who requests it. That party must complete it before service. An attorney also may issue and sign a subpoena if the attorney is authorized to practice in the Virgin Islands.

(b) Defendant Unable to Pay. Upon a defendant's ex parte application, the court must order that a subpoena be issued for a named witness if the defendant shows an inability to pay the witness's fees and the necessity of the witness's presence for an adequate defense. If the court orders a subpoena to be issued, the process costs and witness fees will be paid in the same manner as those paid for witnesses the government subpoenas.

(c) Producing Documents and Objects.

(1) In General. A subpoena may order the witness to produce any books, papers, documents, data, or other objects the subpoena designates. The court may direct the witness to produce the designated items in court before trial or before they are offered in evidence. When the items arrive, the

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