A Subpoena is a legal instrument primarily used to compel what?

• A. Attendance in court
• B. Provide evidence
• C. Eviction orders
• D. Not used

Answer: (A)

Subpoenas are court orders that bring a person into the legal process to testify. Their essential function is to compel attendance in court or at a deposition, so the witness presents their testimony under oath and the court can question them and record what they say. If someone doesn’t show up, the court can sanction them for contempt, reinforcing the force of the order. A subpoena can also require someone to produce documents or other evidence (a related purpose), but the core outcome is securing attendance to provide testimony. Eviction orders are issued through separate procedures, not subpoenas, and “not used” isn’t accurate because subpoenas are a standard tool to obtain witness presence.