Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00688/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00688-18/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DARRYL KEITH BRYANT,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-06-0688 GEB EFB P

vs.

SACRAMENTO COUNTY JAIL, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42

U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff requests five blank subpoena forms for his unincarcerated witnesses

who refuse to testify voluntarily. Dckt. No. 54 (requesting five forms), 57 (requesting three

forms). Since only two unincarcerated witnesses are identified in the court’s pretrial order, the

court will direct the Clerk to mail to plaintiff only two blank subpoena forms. See Dckt. No. 51

at 5. Notwithstanding the court’s multiple warnings, plaintiff appears to be under the impression

that any witness fees will be waived due to his in forma pauperis status. See Dckt. No. 57. 

Plaintiff is reminded that:

If a prospective witness is not incarcerated, and he or she refuses to testify

voluntarily, not earlier than four weeks and not later than two weeks before trial,

the party must prepare and submit to the United States Marshal a subpoena for

service by the Marshal upon the witness. (Blank subpoena forms may be

obtained from the Clerk of the Court.) Also, the party seeking the witness’s

Case 2:06-cv-00688-GEB-EFB Document 61 Filed 01/25/10 Page 1 of 2
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presence must tender an appropriate sum of money to the witness through the

United States Marshal. In the case of an unincarcerated witness, the appropriate

sum of money is the daily witness fee of $40.00 plus the witness’s travel

expenses.

A subpoena will not be served by the United States Marshal upon an

unincarcerated witness unless the subpoena is accompanied by a money order

made payable to the witness for the full amount of the witness’s travel expenses

plus the daily witness fee of $40.00, and a copy of the court’s order granting

plaintiff in forma pauperis status. Because no statute authorizes the

use of public funds for these expenses in civil cases, the tendering of witness fees

and travel expenses is required even if the party was granted leave to proceed in

forma pauperis.

Dckt. No. 44 at 4-5; Dckt. No. 51 at 5, n.2. Thus, a subpoena will not be served upon an

unincarcerated witness by the United States Marshal unless a money order is tendered to the

court. If plaintiff wishes to have the Marshal serve any unincarcerated witnesses who refuse to

testify voluntarily, plaintiff must promptly submit the money orders with the completed

subpoena forms to the court.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk shall forward to plaintiff two

blank subpoena forms. 

Dated: January 25, 2010.

Case 2:06-cv-00688-GEB-EFB Document 61 Filed 01/25/10 Page 2 of 2