46-15-112. Subpoena of witness in this state to testify in another state. - Montana Statutes

     46-15-112. Subpoena of witness in this state to testify in another state. (1) If a judge of a court of record in any state, which by its laws has made provision for commanding persons within that state to attend and testify in this state, certifies under the seal of the court that there is a criminal prosecution pending in the court or that a grand jury investigation is commenced or is about to commence, that a person being within this state is a material witness in the prosecution or a grand jury investigation, and that the person's presence will be required for a specified number of days, upon presentation of the certificate to any judge of a court of record in the county in which the person is located, the judge shall fix a time and place for a hearing and shall make an order directing the witness to appear at a time and place certain for the hearing.
     (2) If at a hearing the judge determines that the witness is material and necessary, that it will not cause undue hardship to the witness to be compelled to attend and testify in the prosecution or a grand jury investigation in the other state, and that the laws of the state in which the prosecution is pending or a grand jury investigation is commenced or is about to commence will give the witness protection from arrest and the service of civil and criminal process, the judge shall issue a subpoena with a copy of the certificate attached directing the witness to attend and testify in the court where the prosecution is pending or where a grand jury investigation is commenced or is about to commence at a time and place specified in the subpoena. In the hearing, the certificate is prima facie evidence of all the facts stated in the certificate.
     (3) If the certificate recommends that the witness be taken into immediate custody and delivered to an officer of the requesting state to assure the witness's attendance in the requesting state, the judge may, in lieu of notification of the hearing, direct that the witness be brought before the judge for the hearing. At the hearing, the judge may, in lieu of issuing a subpoena, order that the witness be taken into custody and delivered to an officer of the requesting state.

     History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 188, L. 1937; Sec. 94-9002, R.C.M. 1947; redes. 95-1809 by Sec. 29, Ch. 513, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 95-1809; amd. Sec. 183, Ch. 800, L. 1991.