46 C.F.R. Subpart I—Subpenas
Title 46 - Shipping
Subpenas for the attendance of witnesses or the production of evidence shall be issued upon request of any party, without notice to any other party. Requests for subpenas for the attendance of witnesses may be made orally or in writing; requests for subpenas for the production of evidence shall be in writing. The party requesting the subpena shall tender to the presiding officer an original and at least two copies of such subpena. Where it appears to the presiding officer that the subpena sought may be unreasonable, oppressive, excessive in scope, or unduly burdensome, he or she may in his or her discretion, as a condition precedent to the issuance of the subpena, require the person seeking the subpena to show the general relevance and reasonable scope of the testimony or other evidence sought. [Rule 131.] (a) Except when issued at a hearing, or in connection with the taking of a deposition, within ten (10) days after service of a subpena for attendance of a witness or a subpena for production of evidence, but in any event at or before the time specified in the subpena for compliance therewith, the person to whom the subpena is directed may, by motion with notice to the party requesting the subpena, petition the presiding officer to quash or modify the subpena. (b) If served at the hearing, the person to whom the subpena is directed may, by oral application at the hearing, within a reasonable time fixed by the presiding officer, petition the presiding officer to revoke or modify the subpena. (c) If served in connection with the taking of a deposition pursuant to §502.203 unless otherwise agreed to by all parties or otherwise ordered by the presiding officer, the party who has requested the subpena shall arrange that it be served at least twenty (20) days prior to the date specified in the subpena for compliance therewith, the person to whom the subpena is directed may move to quash or modify the subpena within ten (10) days after service of the subpena, and a reply to such motion shall be served within five (5) days thereafter. [Rule 132.] Witnesses summoned by subpena to a hearing or deposition are entitled to the same fees and mileage that are paid to witnesses in courts of the United States. Fees and mileage shall be paid, upon request, by the party at whose instance the witness appears. [Rule 133.] [64 FR 7809, Feb. 17, 1999] If service of a subpena is made by a United States marshal, or his or her deputy, or an employee of the Commission, such service shall be evidenced by his or her return thereon. If made by any other person, such person shall make affidavit thereto, describing the manner in which service is made, and return such affidavit on or with the original subpena. In case of failure to make service, the reasons for the failure shall be stated on the original subpena. In making service, the original subpena shall be exhibited to the person served, shall be read to him or her if he or she is unable to read, and a copy thereof shall be left with him or her. The original subpena, bearing or accompanied by required return, affidavit, or statement, shall be returned without delay to the Commission, or if so directed on the subpena, to the presiding officer before whom the person named in the subpena is required to appear. [Rule 134.] (a) A subpena for the attendance of Commission staff personnel or for the production of documentary materials in the possession of the Commission shall be served upon the Secretary. If the subpena is returnable at hearing, a motion to quash may be filed within five (5) days of service and attendance shall not be required until the presiding officer rules on said motion. If the subpena is served in connection with prehearing depositions, the procedure to be followed with respect to motions to quash and replies thereto will correspond to the procedures established with respect to motions and replies in §502.132(c). (b) The General Counsel shall designate an attorney to represent any Commission staff personnel subpenaed under this section. The attorney so designated shall not thereafter participate in the Commission's decision-making process concerning any issue in the proceeding. (c) Rulings of the presiding officer issued under §502.135(a) shall become final rulings of the Commission unless an appeal is filed within ten (10) days after date of issuance of such rulings or unless the Commission, on its own motion, reverses, modifies, or stays such rulings within twenty (20) days of their issuance. Replies to appeals may be filed within ten (10) days. No ruling of the presiding officer shall be effective until twenty (20) days from date of issuance unless the Commission otherwise directs. [Rule 135.] In the event of failure to comply with any subpena or order issued in connection therewith, the Commission may seek enforcement as provided in §502.210(b). [Rule 136.]
Title 46: Shipping
PART 502—RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
Subpart I—Subpenas
§ 502.131 Requests; issuance.
§ 502.132 Motions to quash or modify.
§ 502.133 Attendance and mileage fees.
§ 502.134 Service of subpenas.
§ 502.135 Subpena of Commission staff personnel, documents or things.
§ 502.136 Enforcement.
