CHAPTER 256
WITNESSES AND EVIDENCE
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 129 OF THE REVISED CODE OF DELAWARE, 1935, AS AMENDED, IN RELATION TO WITNESSES AND EVIDENCE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware in General Assembly met:
Section 1. That Chapter 129 of the Revised Code of Delaware, 1935, as amended, be and the same is hereby further amended by repealing all of 4707. Sec. 22 thereof, and enacting and substituting in lieu thereof the following:
4707. Sec. 22. Subpoena Duces Tecum, When Issued; Failure of Witness to Appear or to Produce Books, Enforcement of Obedience to Process:--When a commission is issued by any Court of the United States, or of any State, District or Territory in the United States, or of any foreign country for the taking of testimony of witnesses at any place within the State of Delaware before any commissioner, examiner or master or where a notice has been given, or any other proceeding has been taken for the purpose of taking testimony, within the State of Delaware, pursuant to the laws of the state, district, territory or country wherein the Court is located, or pursuant to the laws of the United States, if it is a Court of the United States, the Prothonotary of the Superior Court for any County, on the presentation of a verified petition of the party desiring to take such testimony or his attorney, setting forth such commission, notice or other proceeding, shall issue a subpoena or subpoenas duces tecum for such witness, commanding him to appear before the commissioner, examiner, or master named in the commission, or before the officer designated in the commission, notice or other paper by his title of office, at a time and place stated in the subpoena; and if any witness after being duly served with such subpoena and after being tendered the legal witness fees, including mileage, as provided for attendance before the Superior Court, refuses or neglects to appear or to produce the books and documents required by said subpoena, or after appearing refuses to testify, and such refusal or neglect is proven to the satisfaction of the Superior Court or any Judge thereof in vacation, such Court or Judge may proceed to enforce obedience to the process or punish the disobedience in the same manner as the said Superior Court may proceed, in case of disobedience to process of subpoena issued by said Court, and in addition thereto the party in whose behalf such witness is summoned shall have all rights and actions against such witness as the aggrieved party now has, as provided in Section 1 of this Chapter, provided however, that no subpoena duces tecum shall be issued by the Prothonotary except upon an order of the Superior Court or any Judge thereof in vacation entered upon an application therefor to such Court or Judge, upon such notice to such witnesses as to the Court and Judge may seem proper.
Approved April 9, 1947.