Connecticut General Statutes 52-161b – Subpoenaing of crime victim by pro se litigant. Court authorization required
(a) A pro se litigant in any civil matter, including a habeas corpus proceeding, shall notify the clerk of the court if such litigant has been convicted of a family violence crime, as defined in § 53a-70b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2019, or § 46b-38a, or a violation of § 53-21, 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-71, 53a-72a, 53a-72b, 53a-73a, 53a-181c, 53a-181d or 53a-181e and if the subject of a subpoena to be issued by such litigant in such matter is the victim of the crime for which such litigant was convicted.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 52-161b
- 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.
- Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
- Pro se: A Latin term meaning "on one's own behalf"; in courts, it refers to persons who present their own cases without lawyers.
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
- Testify: Answer questions in court.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
(b) A pro se litigant who has been convicted of said family violence crime or a violation of any of said sections shall not issue a subpoena summoning a victim of the crime for which such litigant was convicted to appear and testify at a court hearing or deposition in any civil matter, including a habeas corpus proceeding, unless a court authorizes the issuance of such subpoena in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.
(c) Whenever such pro se litigant intends to issue a subpoena to any such victim, such litigant shall provide the clerk of the court with notice of such intention. Upon receipt of such notice, the clerk of the court shall schedule a hearing and provide notice to the pro se litigant of the date, time and place of such hearing. At such hearing, the pro se litigant shall make an offer of proof as to the content of the testimony expected to be given by the victim. If the court finds that the testimony expected to be given by the victim is relevant and necessary to the civil matter, the court shall authorize the pro se litigant to issue such subpoena to such victim. The scope of such litigant’s examination of the victim shall be limited in accordance with the court’s findings on the offer of proof.