An Emory University undergraduate, Elias Neibart is pursuing a philosophy and political science degree with the ultimate goal of becoming an attorney. Among the internships Elias Neibart has completed in his field was one with the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. His responsibilities ranged from assisting trial teams in evidence preparation to helping draft subpoenas that were served to witnesses, corporations, and government offices.

A court order, a subpoena is a request made by a party to a legal case that requires the recipient to fulfill one or more stated obligations. These include giving evidence, producing documents, and attending court hearings and providing evidence.

The most common form of subpoena is that requiring documents, and the request will specify the category of document sought and date by which it needs to be produced. Also specified is the date on which the court lists the proceedings and will check that said document has been produced. At that date, arrangements are made by the court for concerned parties to access such documents.

Because a subpoena represents an order of the court, failure to respond, unless a lawful explanation is provided, is considered contempt of court and may entail criminal or civil penalties.