Rule 15 Notice to Respondent of Third Person Subpoenas.

When a lawyer investigating a disciplinary case wants to get documents from someone else (not the person being investigated), they can send that person a subpoena. A subpoena is a legal order that requires someone to hand over documents.

This rule says that if Counsel does this, they must also send a copy of that subpoena to the Respondent (the person being investigated). This copy has to be delivered at least two full business days before the deadline for the documents to be handed over.

This gives the Respondent a heads up about what evidence is being gathered in their case. It also gives them time to respond or object if they think they need to before the third party actually turns over the documents.