§790.155. Subpoenas

a)         The Court may issue subpoenas through the Chief Justice or one of its Judges or Commissioners to require attendance of witnesses for the purpose of testifying before it, any Judge of the Court, any notary public, or any of its Commissioners, and to require the production of any books, records, papers or documents that may be material or relevant as evidence in any matter pending before it.  If any person refuses to comply with any subpoenas issued in the name of the Chief Justice, or one of the Judges or Commissioners, attested to by the Clerk, with the seal of the Court attached, and served upon the person named in the subpoena, as a summons in a civil action is served, the circuit court of the proper county, on application of the party at whose instance the subpoena was issued, shall compel obedience by attachment proceedings, as for contempt, as in a case of a disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena from the circuit  court on a refusal to testify.

 

b)         The Clerk of the Court of Claims, when an action is pending, shall, from time to time, issue subpoenas on behalf of the Chief Justice, the Judges or Commissioners, for those witnesses and to those counties in the States as may be required by the attorneys or either party.

 

c)         Every subpoena shall:

 

1)         state that it is issued by the Court of Claims; and

 

2)         state the title of the action and its civil action number; and

 

3)         command each person to whom it is directed to attend and give testimony or to produce or permit inspection and copying of designated books, documents or tangible things in the possession, custody or control of that person.  A command to produce evidence shall be joined with a command to appear at trial or hearing or at deposition.

 

d)         The Clerk may issue subpoenas on behalf of a party requesting issuance provided that there is a valid request to the Clerk indicating the information to be subpoenaed.  An attorney of record may also issue and sign a subpoena on a form provided by the Clerk.

 

e)         Prior notice of any subpoena for production of documents and things before trial shall be served on each party by mailing or delivering written notice to the other parties to the action, or their attorneys, at the last known address of the attorney or party, with proof of service filed with the Clerk.

 

f)         A party or an attorney responsible for the issuance and service of a subpoena shall take reasonable steps to avoid imposing undue burden or expense on a person subject to a subpoena.  The Court shall enforce this duty and impose upon the party or attorney in breach of this duty an appropriate sanction, including being held in default, debarred from filing any other pleading or maintaining any claim or defense.

 

(Source:  Amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 7314, effective April 29, 2016)