Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_23-cv-00252/USCOURTS-caed-2_23-cv-00252-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JAMES CURTIS KERN, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

SACRAMENTO COUNTY SHERIFF, et 

al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:23-cv-0252 AC P 

ORDER 

 Plaintiff, a former county and current state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a motion 

for subpoena duces tecum forms. ECF No. 28. 

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45(a)(3) requires that “[t]he clerk must issue a subpoena, 

signed but otherwise in blank, to a party who requests it.” Therefore, plaintiff’s request will be 

granted, and the Clerk of the Court will be directed to send plaintiff blank subpoena forms. 

However, plaintiff is cautioned that if, after completing the forms, he seeks assistance in serving 

the subpoenas, he must make a showing that such assistance is warranted. In order for the court 

to consider ordering the United States Marshals to serve a subpoena duces tecum on a non-party, 

plaintiff must submit to the court a completed federal subpoena form that describes the items to 

be produced with reasonable particularity and designate a reasonable time, place, and manner for 

production. Plaintiff must also show that he cannot receive the documents he seeks by way of 

Case 2:23-cv-00252-AC Document 29 Filed 05/01/24 Page 1 of 2
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discovery requests directed to defendants. Failure to do so will result in denial of the motion. 

Plaintiff is further advised that even though he is proceeding in forma pauperis, should the court 

order service of his subpoena, he may be required to pay any costs associated with complying 

with the subpoena in order to avoid imposing an undue burden upon a non-party. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. Plaintiff’s request for subpoena forms (ECF No. 28) is GRANTED; and 

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to provide plaintiff a signed but otherwise blank 

subpoena duces tecum form with this order. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(a)(3). 

DATED: April 30, 2024 

Case 2:23-cv-00252-AC Document 29 Filed 05/01/24 Page 2 of 2