RCW 10.55.010
Definitions.
"Witness" as used in this chapter shall include a person whose testimony is desired in any proceeding or investigation by a grand jury or in a criminal action, prosecution or proceeding.
The word "state" shall include any territory of the United States and the District of Columbia.
The word "summons" shall include a subpoena, order or other notice requiring the appearance of a witness.
[
1943 c 218 s 1
; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 2150-1.]
RCW 10.55.020
Summoning witness in this state to testify in another state.
(1) If a judge of a court of record in any state which by its laws has made provision for commanding persons within that state to attend and testify in this state certified under the seal of such court that there is a criminal prosecution pending in such court, or that a grand jury investigation has commenced or is about to commence, that a person being within this state is a material witness in such prosecution, or grand jury investigation, and that such person's presence will be required for a specified number of days, upon presentation of such certificate, accompanied by an attestation made under penalty of perjury stating whether such prosecution or grand jury investigation is related to the provision, receipt, attempted provision or receipt, assistance in the provision or receipt, or attempted assistance in the provision or receipt of protected health care services as defined in RCW 7.115.010
that are lawful in the state of Washington, to any judge of a court of record in the county in which such person is, such judge shall fix a time and place for a hearing, and shall make an order directing the witness to appear at a time and place certain for the hearing. If a court finds that a false attestation was intentionally submitted and the prosecution or grand jury investigation is related to the provision, receipt, attempted provision or receipt, assistance in the provision or receipt, or attempted assistance in the provision or receipt of protected health care services as defined in RCW 7.115.010
that are lawful in the state of Washington, a statutory penalty of $10,000 per violation will apply. Submission of such attestation subjects the attester to the jurisdiction of the courts of Washington state for any suit, penalty, or damages arising out of a false attestation under this section.
(2) If at a hearing the judge determines that the witness is material and necessary, that it will not cause undue hardship to the witness to be compelled to attend and testify in the prosecution or a grand jury investigation in the other state, and that the laws of the state in which the prosecution is pending, or grand jury investigation has commenced or is about to commence, will give to such witness protection from arrest and the service of civil and criminal process, he or she shall issue a summons, with a copy of the certificate attached, directing the witness to attend and testify in the court where the prosecution is pending, or where a grand jury investigation has commenced or is about to commence and of any other state through which the witness may be required to travel by ordinary course of travel, at a time and place specified in the certificate. In any such hearing the certificate shall be prima facie evidence of all the facts stated therein.
(3) If said certificate recommends that the witness be taken into immediate custody and delivered to an officer of the requesting state to assure such person's attendance in the requesting state, such judge may, in lieu of notification of the hearing, direct that such witness be forthwith brought before such judge for said hearing; and the judge at the hearing being satisfied of the desirability of such custody and delivery, for which determination the certificate shall be prima facie proof of such desirability may, in lieu of issuing subpoena or summons, order that said witness be forthwith taken into custody and delivered to an officer of the requesting state.
(4) If the witness, who is summoned as above provided, after being paid or tendered by some properly authorized person the sum of ten cents a mile for each mile by the ordinary traveled route to and from the court where the prosecution is pending and five dollars for each day, that such person is required to travel and attend as a witness, fails without good cause to attend and testify as directed in the summons, such person shall be punished in the manner provided for the punishment of any witness who disobeys a summons issued from a court of record in this state.
(5) The summons of a witness to testify in the prosecution or a grand jury investigation in another state is prohibited if such prosecution or grand jury investigation is related to the provision, receipt, attempted provision or receipt, assistance in the provision or receipt, or attempted assistance in the provision or receipt of protected health care services as defined in RCW 7.115.010
that are lawful in the state of Washington.
[
2023 c 193 s 7
;
2010 c 8 s 1050
;
1943 c 218 s 2
; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 2150-2. Formerly RCW 10.55.020, 10.55.030, 10.55.040, and
10.55.050
.]
NOTES:
Effective date
—
2023 c 193:
See note following RCW 7.115.020
.
RCW 10.55.060
Witness from another state summoned to testify in this state.
If any person in any state, which by its laws has made provision for commanding persons within its borders to attend and testify in criminal prosecutions, or grand jury investigations commenced or about to commence, in this state, is a material witness either for the prosecution or for the defense, in a criminal action pending in a court of record in this state, or in a grand jury investigation which has commenced or is about to commence, a judge of such court may issue a certificate under the seal of the court stating these facts and specifying the number of days the witness will be required. Said certificate may include a recommendation that the witness be taken into immediate custody and delivered to an officer of this state to assure his or her attendance in this state. This certificate shall be presented to a judge of a court of record in the county in which the witness is found.
If the witness is summoned to attend and testify in this state he or she shall be tendered the sum of ten cents a mile for each mile by the ordinary traveled route to and from the court where the prosecution is pending and five dollars for each day that he or she is required to travel and attend as a witness. A witness who has appeared in accordance with the provisions of the summons shall not be required to remain within this state a longer period of time than the period mentioned in the certificate, unless otherwise ordered by the court. If such witness, after coming into this state, fails without good cause to attend and testify as directed in the summons, he or she shall be punished in the manner provided for the punishment of any witness who disobeys a summons issued from a court of record in this state.
[
2010 c 8 s 1051
;
1943 c 218 s 3
; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 2150-3. Formerly RCW 10.55.060, 10.55.070, 10.55.080, and
10.55.090
.]
RCW 10.55.100
Exemption of witness from arrest and service of process.
If a person comes into this state in obedience to a summons directing him or her to attend and testify in this state he or she shall not while in this state pursuant to such summons be subject to arrest or the service of process, civil or criminal, in connection with matters which arose before his or her entrance into this state under the summons.
If a person passes through this state while going to another state in obedience to a summons to attend and testify in that state or while returning therefrom, he or she shall not while so passing through this state be subject to arrest or the service of process, civil or criminal, in connection with matters which arose before his or her entrance into this state under the summons.
[
2010 c 8 s 1052
;
1943 c 218 s 4
; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 2150-4.]
RCW 10.55.110
Uniformity of interpretation.
This chapter shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of the states which enact it.
[
1943 c 218 s 5
; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 2150-5.]
RCW 10.55.120
Short title.
This chapter may be cited as "Uniform Act to Secure the Attendance of Witnesses from Without a State in Criminal Proceedings."
[
1943 c 218 s 6
; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 2150-6.]