Opinion ID: 1817972
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The KCDEC's refusal to issue blank subpoenas to Harpole.

Text: ¶ 31. Harpole complains that his hearing rights were abridged when the KCDEC chair refused to issue subpoenas in blank. Miss.Code Ann. § 23-15-925 confers subpoena powers upon a county executive committee in election contests in order to assure that the executive committee can perform its statutory duties to investigate claims of election law violations. Section 23-15-925 states, [f]or the proper enforcement of the preceding sections the committee has the power to subpoena and, if necessary, attach witnesses needed in said investigation. ¶ 32. In ruling on this issue, Judge Smith appropriately found Harpole's argument to be without merit and stated: [Harpole] does not complain that the DEC refused to issue subpoenas on his behalf, rather he contends that the DEC refused to issue blank subpoenas to him. This Court can find nothing in the statutes that would require, or even authorize, the DEC to issue blank subpoenas. The fact that the DEC refused to issue blank subpoenas in no way infringed upon his right to have witnesses subpoenaed on his behalf to testify before the committee. ¶ 33. Harpole was not denied his right to subpoena witnessesthe KCDEC merely refused to give him blank subpoenas. This issue is without merit.