Which of the following statements is true?

• A. The municipal courts have specific authority to issue subpoenas for out-of-county witnesses.
• B. If a witness is younger than 18, the court may subpoena his or her parents to produce the witness in court.
• C. A subpoena duces tecum is a subpoena that orders the witness to bring other witnesses with him or her.
• D. Court reporters may use only written notes to record court proceedings.

Answer: (B)

The important point here is how subpoenas work when a witness is a minor. Texas procedure allows the court to issue a subpoena to the parent or guardian of a child under 18 to bring the child to court. This helps ensure that a minor who must testify can be compelled to appear, with the parent bearing responsibility to ensure the minor attends.

The other statements don’t fit: a subpoena duces tecum orders the witness to bring documents or tangible items, not to bring other witnesses; court reporters are not limited to only written notes—they may also use stenographic or electronic recording methods; and the claim about municipal courts having specific authority to subpoena out-of-county witnesses is not accurate as stated, since subpoena authority involves proper service and procedures that aren’t restricted to such a blanket rule.