If, after a preliminary examination, a defendant is held to answer, the magistrate before whom the examination was held may require any material witness examined on the part of the state:

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 31-03-19

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testify: includes every mode of oral statement under oath or affirmation. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • written: include "typewriting" and "typewritten" and "printing" and "printed" except in the case of signatures and when the words are used by way of contrast to typewriting and printing. See North Dakota Code 1-01-37

1.    To enter into a written undertaking, without surety, to the effect that such witness will appear and testify at the court to which the complaint and depositions, if any, are to be sent, or that the witness will forfeit such sum as the magistrate may fix and determine; or

2.    To enter into a written undertaking for the witness’s appearance with such sureties and in such sum as the magistrate may deem proper, if the magistrate is satisfied, by proof on oath, that there is reason to believe that such witness will not appear and testify unless security is required.

If any such material witness is a minor, any adult person may be allowed to give an undertaking for the minor’s appearance, or the magistrate may take the undertaking of such minor in a sum not exceeding fifty dollars, which shall be valid and binding in law, notwithstanding the disability of minority.