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RSMo 491.410effective 28 Aug 1959

Summoning witness in this state to testify in another state

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In plain English

If another state needs a witness from Missouri for a criminal case or grand jury, a judge in that other state can send a certificate (official paperwork) to a Missouri judge. The Missouri judge holds a hearing. If the Missouri judge decides the witness is truly needed, it won't be too hard on the witness to go, and the other state will keep the witness safe from arrest while traveling, the judge can order the witness to go testify. The witness gets paid a small travel fee and daily pay. If the witness refuses to show up without a good reason, that person can be punished the same way as someone who ignores a court order in Missouri.

Word-for-word law

491.410. in this state to in another state. — 1. If a judge of a in any state which by its laws has made for commanding persons within that state to attend and testify in this state certifies under the of such court that there is a pending in such court, or that a has or is about to commence, that a person being within this state is a in such , or grand jury investigation, and his presence be required for a specified number of days, upon presentation of the to any judge of a court of record in the county in which such person is, the judge shall fix a time and place for a , and shall make an directing the witness to appear at a time and place certain for the hearing.

2. If at a hearing the judge that the witness is and necessary, that it will not 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 grand jury investigation has commenced or is about to commence and of any other state through which the witnesses may be required to pass by ordinary course of travel, will give to him protection from and the of , he shall a , 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 has commenced or is about to commence at a time and place specified in the summons. In any such hearing the certificate shall be of all the facts stated therein.

3. If the certificate recommends that the witness be taken into immediate and delivered to an officer of the requesting state to assure his attendance in the requesting state, the judge may, notification of the hearing, direct that the witness be brought before him for a hearing. 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 grand jury investigation in the other state, and that the laws of the state in which the prosecution is pending, or grand jury investigation has commenced or is about to commence and of any other state through which the witness may be required to pass by ordinary course of travel, will give to him protection from arrest and service of civil and criminal process, he may, in lieu of issuing or summons, order that the witness be forthwith taken into custody and delivered to an officer of the requesting state. In any such hearing the certificate shall be prima facie evidence of all the facts stated therein.

4. If the witness, who is as provided in this section, after being paid or by some properly person the sum of ten cents a mile for each mile by the ordinary traveled route to and from the court where the prosecution is pending and fifteen dollars for each day that he is required to travel and attend as a witness, fails without to attend and testify as directed in the summons, he shall be punished in the manner provided for the punishment of any witness who disobeys a summons issued from a court of record in this state.

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Source & history notes

(L. 1959 H.B. 295 § 3)

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Related Missouri laws

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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 491.410: Summoning witness in this state to testify in another state | KnowMo Laws