(a) Each commissioner, appointed according to the laws or usages of any other state or government, or by any court of the United States or of any other state or government, to take testimony in this state to be used in any such court, may apply to a judge of any court of record, or to any justice of the peace, notary public or commissioner of the Superior Court, for a subpoena or to any such judge for a capias, to compel the appearance of any witness before such commissioner.

Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 52-155

  • Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.

(b) Upon proof of the commissioner’s authority and that the testimony of the witness is material, the judge, justice of the peace, notary public or commissioner of the Superior Court shall issue the subpoena or capias requested. If any person summoned as a witness to testify before the commissioner refuses to appear and testify, the judge of any court of record may commit the person to prison until he signifies his willingness to appear and testify.

(c) Before any compulsory process issues to cause any witness to attend and give his deposition, it shall appear to the officer who was to take the deposition, or, in the case of a commissioner, to the officer issuing the summons, that the witness has been duly summoned and the amount of his fees tendered to him by the officer serving the same.