Opinion ID: 1943617
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Must a Judge Subpoena All Witnesses a John Doe Complainant Wishes to Produce?

Text: ¶ 28 In response to our request, the parties addressed the question of whether a John Doe judge must issue subpoenas for all witnesses a complainant wishes to produce. Both parties agree that a judge retains discretionary authority as to the issuance of such subpoenas. We conclude that a John Doe judge need not issue subpoenas for every witness a complainant wishes to produce. Those same factors which lead us to conclude a John Doe judge need not examine each witness produced by a complainant compel a symmetrical result as to the issuance of subpoenas. Indeed, it would be even more wasteful to compel a John Doe judge to issue subpoenas for incompetent, cumulative, unnecessary, or irrelevant witnesses than it would be to force the judge to examine them.