Which of the following statements is true?

• A. The municipal courts have specific authority to issue subpoenas for out-of-county witnesses.
• B. A subpoena duces tecum is a subpoena that orders the witness to bring other witnesses with him or her.
• C. If a peace officer serves a subpoena by mail, the subpoena can be mailed regular mail.
• D. If a witness is younger than 18, the court may subpoena his or her parents to produce the witness in court.

Answer: (D)

Subpoena power in municipal court includes practical rules for handling minors. When the witness is under 18, the court may issue a subpoena to the parent or guardian to produce the minor in court. This allows the court to secure the child’s appearance by directing the parent to bring the child, which is often necessary because a minor can’t be effectively compelled to appear on their own. That’s why this statement is true.

Why the other statements don’t fit: Municipal courts generally don’t issue subpoenas to compel out-of-county witnesses without involving the appropriate higher court or jurisdictional procedures. A subpoena duces tecum is about producing documents or tangible items, not about summoning other witnesses to appear. And service by mail isn’t simply regular mail for subpoenas—the process typically requires certified or registered mail or another approved service method, not ordinary mail.