Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 11 - CIVIL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE (§§ 11-1-1 — 11-77-7) › Chapter 1 - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE PROVISIONS COMMON TO COURTS (§§ 11-1-1 — 11-1-71) › Section 11-1-51 - Copy of books, papers, or documents furnished; issuance and service of subpoenas duces tecum

(1)
The court in which any action or suit is pending may, on good cause shown, and after notice of the application to the opposite party, in termtime or in vacation, order either party to make available to the other, within a specified time, and on such terms as may be imposed, an inspection and copy, or to grant permission to take a copy or photograph of any books, papers, documents, accounts, letters, photographs, objects, or tangible things, in his possession or under his control containing evidence relating to the merits of the action or proceeding or of the defense thereto; or order any party to permit entry upon designated land or other property in his possession or control, exclusive of said party's home or place of abode, for the purpose of inspecting, measuring, surveying or photographing the property or any designated relevant object or operation thereon; provided, however, the aforementioned entry upon designated land or other property may extend to a party's home or place of abode if such party be the plaintiff or complainant in a cause of action based on contractor's or materialmen's actions involving the construction, repair or improvement of such home or place of abode. If compliance with such order be refused, such books, papers, documents, accounts, letters, photographs, objects or tangible things shall not be given in evidence in the action or proceeding by the party so refusing; and the court may punish the recusant party as for a contempt of court. If a complainant or plaintiff fails to comply with such order, the court may, on motion, give the like judgment for the defendant as in cases of nonsuit or dismissal; and if a defendant fails to comply with such order, the court may, on motion, give judgment or decree against him by default or confession. Provided, however, this section shall neither be applicable to the work product of counsel for any party nor to matters of privilege or national security.
(2)
The clerks of all county, circuit and chancery courts may issue subpoenas duces tecum without a prior order of the court and a copy of the subpoena shall be served personally or by mail on all attorneys of record in the cause or on any party not represented by an attorney. A subpoena duces tecum may command a person to whom it is directed to produce the books, papers, documents or tangible things designated therein, but on motion the court wherein the cause is pending, in termtime or vacation, promptly and in any event at or before the time specified in said subpoena for compliance therewith (a) may quash or modify said subpoena if it is unreasonable or oppressive, or (b) may condition denial of the motion upon the advancement by the person in whose behalf the subpoena is issued of the reasonable cost of producing the books, papers, documents or tangible things. The provisions of this subsection shall be cumulative and additional to any other procedures provided by law.
(3)
Chancellors and the judges of all county and circuit courts may order writs of subpoena duces tecum in vacation in the same manner as if allowed in open court. The provisions of this subsection shall be cumulative and additional to any other procedures provided by law.
Codes, 1857, ch. 61, art. 236; 1871, § 815; 1880, § 2277; 1892, § 927; 1906, § 1003; Hemingway's 1917, § 723; 1930, § 744; 1942, § 1659; Laws, 1900, ch. 97; Laws, 1956, ch. 234 1974, ch. 328, § 1; Laws, 1975, ch. 350, eff. March 14, 1975.