15.2-854 - Investigations. - Virginia Statutes

§ 15.2-854. Investigations.

Whenever the commission on human rights has a reasonable cause to believethat any person has engaged in, or is engaging in, any violation of a countyordinance which prohibits discrimination due to race, color, religion, sex,pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age,marital status, or disability, and, after making a good faith effort toobtain the data, information, and attendance of witnesses necessary todetermine whether such violation has occurred, is unable to obtain such data,information, or attendance, it may request the county attorney to petitionthe judge of the general district court for its jurisdiction for a subpoenaagainst any such person refusing to produce such data and information orrefusing to appear as a witness, and the judge of such court may, upon goodcause shown, cause the subpoena to be issued. Any witness subpoena issuedunder this section shall include a statement that any statements made will beunder oath and that the respondent or other witness is entitled to berepresented by an attorney. Any person failing to comply with a subpoenaissued under this section shall be subject to punishment for contempt by thecourt issuing the subpoena. Any person so subpoenaed may apply to the judgewho issued a subpoena to quash it.

(1986, c. 495, § 15.1-783.2; 1994, c. 873; 1997, cc. 404, 587.)