A subpoena is a court order that compels witnesses to

give testimony or produce documents or evidence. It is a legal document issued by a court or other legal authority, typically at the request of the party seeking the subpoena, which requires the person named in the subpoena to appear in court or at a deposition and testify under oath or to produce specified documents or other evidence that may be relevant to a legal proceeding. Failure to comply with a subpoena can result in legal consequences, such as being held in contempt of court.