Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-02040/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-02040-12/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 

DIRK JAONG BOUIE, JR., 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

OSCAR SMITH, et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:18-cv-2040 KJM AC P 

ORDER 

 Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 

§ 1983, has filed a motion requesting blank subpoena forms for incarcerated and unincarcerated 

witnesses. ECF No. 45. 

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 a blank subpoena form.1

 

However, plaintiff is advised that the court will not direct the U.S. Marshal serve the subpoenas 

unless trial has been set or there is a hearing scheduled at which the witness is to testify. 

Furthermore, limitations on a subpoena include the relevance of the testimony sought and the 

location of the witness, Fed. R. Civ. P. 26, 45, and the court will not order the appearance of a 

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 The court’s subpoena form does not distinguish between incarcerated and unincarcerated or 

willing and unwilling witnesses. 

Case 2:18-cv-02040-DC-AC Document 46 Filed 04/05/21 Page 1 of 2
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witness or service of a subpoena on a witness unless plaintiff has complied with the procedures 

outlined in the discovery and scheduling order (ECF No. 28 at 2-4). 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. Plaintiff’s motion for a blank subpoena form, ECF No. 45, is GRANTED.

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

blank Subpoena to Appear and Testify at a Hearing or Trial in a Civil Action.

DATED: April 2, 2021 

Case 2:18-cv-02040-DC-AC Document 46 Filed 04/05/21 Page 2 of 2