§ 136.565 Issuance of subpoena by district attorney for witnesses at trial

A district attorney has the power to call witnesses to court for a criminal trial. To do this, the prosecutor can sign and issue subpoenas, which are legal orders telling someone they must show up to testify. This rule limits that power to 10 witnesses for each case.

The witnesses must also be located within the state. The subpoenas are meant to support the charges laid out in the indictment, which is the formal document listing the criminal charges against someone. This helps make sure the prosecutor has enough witnesses to present the case in court, while also keeping a cap on how many people can be pulled into the trial through this process.

If you receive one of these subpoenas, it means the district attorney wants you to testify at a criminal trial. Ignoring a subpoena can lead to legal trouble, so it's something to take seriously if you are ever served with one.