Is it possible to be called in to court by telephone on the same day to be a witness or get a letter by mail.?

Question

Someone I know said they were called on the phone to come in and be a wtiness in court. I dont know if this is true. Is this possible can you actually be called on the same day that you are suppose to be a witness or do you get a letter saying when you have to go.

I am not asking for me but I am a foster parent and child cases are different. The biological Mother of the child I have in my care was late for her visit with the child and only about an hour and half later I got a call to come get the child. I was told that the Mother wanted to leave cause she got a call to be a witness in court. I found this weird cause I did not think that you would get a call in the afternoon to be a witness in court for that day. I thought someone would know for sure or even agree with me tha tthis is not the case that you get a letter requesting you to be a witness.

Answer 1

Yes, it can happen
Here's how

First a subpeona has to be issues. In the subpeona it will tell you whether the witness has to, APPEAR, BE ON CALL, or SUBMIT DOCUMENTS. This is done when an attorney knows s/he may not really need to call a witness. Instead of having them sit in court all day, or say fly in from out of town, the court may agree to them being on call.

She also may have been told to appear, then requested that she be placed on call if she could show that it would be difficult for her to appear. She may be given an hour or so to show up. In any event, she should have known that them calling was a possibility.

In rare cases it can happen without notice. I've clerked for a judge that would call people to come to court, but only when the person had information vital to the case, and usually in informal proceedings.

Ask her for proof

Answer 2

In my experience, you get a letter, called a subpoena which requires you to show up as the witness on the appointed court date at the appointed time.

Answer 3

Surely if this woman was to be called as witness she would have known about it.
I suggest you ring the clerk of courts office the numbers in the phone book they can tell you for sure what the procedures are.

Answer 4

specific, maximum particularly. As a deputy sheriff, I even have issued 2 tickets for dashing on the comparable highway to the comparable driving force until now he left my field of view. I suggested the driving force for 40 4 in a 35, then he have been given mad and sped off, achieving 40 9, so I pulled him over a mile up the line and suggested him for that. He drove away paradoxically slow after that.

Answer 5

You need a subpoena to be REQUIRED to come to court, but you may be called and you can respond as a courtesy, but you are not required. A letter is also a request, not a requirement.