“Subpoena Duces Tecums” in California Criminal Cases

A subpoena duces tecum (or “SDT”) is a court order that requires you to produce certain documents or pieces of evidence at a hearing or trial in a criminal case. Under California law, either a prosecutor or the defendant may request evidence by means of an SDT.

Here are four key things to know:

1. An SDT must set forth the specific materials sought, a statement that you possess them, and a “probable cause” showing of their relevance.
2. Materials sought in SDTs can include everything from emails, photos, and phone records to DNA results, bank statements, and voicemails.
3. You do not have to produce requested materials that are privileged, inaccessible, or violative of your Fifth Amendment rights.
4. Failing to comply with an SDT may cause the judge to issue a warrant for your arrest and hold you in contempt.

Our California criminal defense attorneys will highlight the following in this article:

• 1. When is a subpoena duces tecum necessary?
• 2. How are they served?
• 3. What do I have to do?
• 4. What happens if I do not comply?
• 5. What are the exclusions to subpoenas duces tecum?
• 6. What is a subpoena ad testificandum?

1. When is a subpoena duces tecum necessary?

A subpoena duces tecum (SDT) typically comes into play when the prosecutor needs documents or other evidence from you.

First the prosecutor may ask you to sign an authorization form that releases the requested materials to them without getting the court involved.¹ If you refuse, then the prosecutor will ask the court to issue an SDT forcing you to produce the materials.²

Note that you can also have an SDT served on the prosecutor (or any third-parties) requesting materials for your defense. In our experience, we can usually persuade the prosecutor to turn over all relevant evidence without having to resort to an SDT.

1.1. Examples

Some examples of documents and evidence prosecutors seek through SDTs include:

• Blood test information,
• DNA samples (typical in rape (PC 261) cases),
• Income tax returns,
• Consumer records,
• Employment records,
• Production of business records,
• Bank statements,
• Personal records,
• Emails, text messages, voicemails, etc.,
• Phone records,
• Employee records, and
• Photographs.

A common scenario of when we use an SDT includes when a state witness is lying, and we want to “refresh their recollection” or impeach their testimony by showing them their prior inconsistent statements in old emails, voicemails, etc.

2. How are they served?

After the court clerk issues a subpoena duces tecum, it must then be served on you with proper judicial council forms by way of:

• Hand-delivery (also known as personal service);
• E-mail to your last known e-mail address; or,
• Certified mail to a last known address.³

Service must occur in a timely manner to give you “reasonable time” to collect the materials and bring them to a judge. The court must also receive proof of service of when and where you were served.

3. What do I have to do?

As someone receiving a subpoena duces tecum, you are considered the “custodian of records.” Once you are served, you send the requested materials to the superior court judge presiding over the case.

In a process called an “in-camera hearing,” the judge then reviews the evidence and decides if the prosecutor is entitled to it.⁴ The materials will go back to you if the judge finds that they are not “relevant” to the case.

4. What happens if I do not comply?

If you ignore a subpoena duces tecum, the prosecutor may ask the judge to issue a warrant for your arrest. In our experience, judges also punish refusals with contempt. According to California Penal Code 1331 PC:

Disobedience to a subpoena, or a refusal to be sworn or to testify as a witness, may be punished by the court or magistrate as a contempt.⁵

For the most part, contempt of court is a misdemeanor, punishable by:

• Up to six months in county jail; and/or,
• A maximum fine of $1,000.⁶

5. What are the exclusions to subpoenas duces tecum?