Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 50, December 14, 2024
Rule 234.2 - Subpoena. Issuance. Service. Compliance. Fees. Prisoners(a) Upon the request of a party, the prothonotary shall issue a subpoena signed and under the seal of the court but otherwise in blank, substantially in the form prescribed by Rule 234.6.(b) A copy of the subpoena may be served upon any adult within the Commonwealth by an adult. (1) in the manner prescribed by Rule 402(a);(2) by any form of mail requiring a return receipt, postage prepaid, restricted delivery. Service is complete upon delivery of the mail to the person subpoenaed or any of the persons referred to in Rule 402(a)(2). The return receipt may be signed by the person subpoenaed or any of such persons; or(3) by ordinary mail. The mail shall contain two copies of the Notice and Acknowledgment prescribed by Rule 234.9 and a self-addressed stamped envelope.(c) The fee for one day's attendance and round trip mileage shall be tendered upon demand at the time the person is served with a subpoena. If a subpoena is served by mail, a check in the amount of one day's attendance and round trip mileage shall be enclosed with the subpoena.(d) A court may compel the attendance of any person confined in jail or prison by issuing, upon motion, an order directed to the custodian of the person so confined to release the person to the custody of a sheriff or other appropriate agent.(e)(1) For the purposes of this subdivision, "guardian" shall mean any parent, custodian, or other person who has legal custody of a minor, or person designated by the court to be a temporary guardian for purposes of a proceeding.(2)(i) Except as provided by subdivision (ii), if a witness is a minor, a copy of the subpoena shall be served upon the minor and the guardian of the minor within the Commonwealth by an adult in the manner prescribed in subdivision (b).(ii) Upon prior court approval and good cause shown, a copy of the subpoena may be served upon a minor who is a witness without serving a copy of the subpoena on the guardian. The copy of the subpoena shall be served upon the minor within the Commonwealth by an adult in the manner prescribed in subdivision (b).The provisions of this Rule 234.2 adopted December 14, 1989, effective 1/1/1990, 20 Pa.B. 7; amended April 7, 1997, effective 7/1/1997, 27 Pa.B. 1921; amended May 14, 1999, effective 7/1/1999, 29 Pa.B. 2767; amended July 23, 2009, effective 9/1/2009, 39 Pa.B. 4738.