(1) A subpoena may be served by the party or any other person 18 years of age or older. Except as provided in subsections (2), (3) and (4) of this section, the service must be made by delivering a copy to the witness personally. The service must be made so as to allow the witness a reasonable time for preparation and travel to the place of attendance. If the subpoena is not accompanied by a command to appear at trial, hearing or deposition under ORS 419B.884, whether the subpoena is served personally or by mail, copies of a subpoena commanding production and inspection of books, papers, documents or other tangible things before trial must be served on each party at least seven days before the subpoena is served on the person required to produce and permit inspection, unless the court orders a shorter period.
(2)(a) A law enforcement agency shall designate an individual upon whom service of a subpoena may be made. A designated individual must be available during normal business hours. In the absence of a designated individual, service of a subpoena under paragraph (b) of this subsection may be made upon the officer in charge of the law enforcement agency.
(b) If a peace officer’s attendance at trial is required as a result of employment as a peace officer, a subpoena may be served on the officer by delivering a copy personally to the officer or to an individual designated by the agency that employs the officer no later than 10 days prior to the date attendance is sought. A subpoena may be served in this manner only if the officer is currently employed as a peace officer and is present within the state at the time of service.
(c) When a subpoena has been served as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the law enforcement agency shall make a good faith effort to give actual notice to the officer whose attendance is sought of the date, time and location of the court appearance. If the officer cannot be notified, the law enforcement agency shall promptly notify the court and a postponement or continuance may be granted to allow the officer to be personally served.
(d) As used in this subsection, “law enforcement agency” means the Oregon State Police, a county sheriff’s department or a municipal police department.
(3) Under the following circumstances, service of a subpoena to a witness by mail has the same legal force and effect as personal service:
(a) The attorney mailing the subpoena certifies in connection with or upon the return of service that the attorney, or the attorney’s agent, has had personal or telephone contact with the witness and the witness indicated a willingness to appear at trial if subpoenaed; or
(b) The subpoena was mailed to the witness more than five days before trial by certified mail or some other designation of mail that provides a receipt for the mail signed by the recipient and the attorney received a return receipt signed by the witness prior to trial.
(4) Service of subpoena by mail may be used for a subpoena commanding production of books, papers, documents or other tangible things that is not accompanied by a command to appear at trial or hearing or at a deposition under ORS 419B.884.
(5) Proof of service of a subpoena is made in the same manner as proof of service of a summons except that the server is not required to certify that the server is not a party in the action or an attorney for a party in the action. [2001 c.622 §28; 2003 c.14 §230]
Section: Previous 419B.881 419B.884 419B.887 419B.890 419B.893 419B.896 419B.899 419B.902 419B.905 419B.908 419B.911 419B.914 419B.917 419B.918 419B.920 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008