§ 717 Disobeying defendant's subpoena - Forfeiture.

If a defendant in a criminal case has a witness served with a subpoena, that witness is legally required to show up. If the witness ignores the subpoena and does not appear, they can be forced to pay the defendant fifty dollars.

This payment is not automatic. The defendant has to file a separate civil lawsuit against the witness to collect the money. The fifty dollars acts as a penalty for skipping out on a legal obligation to testify.

This rule gives defendants a way to hold witnesses accountable when they refuse to follow a subpoena. It also serves as a warning to witnesses that ignoring a subpoena can cost them money, not just cause problems for the court case.