Subpoenas
What is a Subpoena?
The City Attorney's Office handles hearings in Madison Municipal Court and Dane County Circuit Court. If you receive a Subpoena from the City of Madison Attorney’s Office, you are being ordered by the Court to serve as a witness (for the City) in a court hearing at a specific date and time. A prosecutor from the City Attorney’s Office evaluates each case and sends a Subpoena to witnesses that are needed to testify during trial. Without your presence, the case may not be able to proceed.
You may contact the prosecutor assigned to the case at the City Attorney’s Office regarding your Subpoena at attorney@cityofmadison.com or by phone at 608-266-4511.
What to do if you get a Subpoena
Do not ignore the Subpoena. A material witness warrant may be issued for your arrest if you do not appear.
Read the Subpoena carefully. The names of the parties, date, time and location of the trial will be printed on each Subpoena as well as a contact number and email address for our office. It is important to call the listed phone number or send an email to the listed person as directed on the Subpoena to confirm your appearance and ensure the trial has not been rescheduled to another date, and to review your testimony with the prosecutor.
You may receive a phone message from our office to arrange service via email of a Subpoena - please call back or email us. We take every effort to avoid personally serving a Subpoenas at an individual's home or work by a process server or Sheriff's Deputy.
Wisconsin law forbids employers from firing employees because they have been called to testify in a proceeding, even if the employee's testimony is against the employer or involves a work-related incident. Employees are required to give their employers prompt notice of the Subpoena.
If it is impossible or extremely difficult for you to appear at the date and time listed on the Subpoena, call our email our office and explain the situation to the prosecutor assigned to the case.
Accommodations
The City of Madison uses video remote interpretation and can provide interpreters on demand, at no cost.
If you would like to schedule an interpreter or require assistance due to a disability, please let us know as soon as possible.
Appearing by Zoom
If you cannot appear in person, you may appear remotely, delivering your testimony via Zoom. Alternately, if you are scheduled to appear at a Zoom trial and do not have the technical capability to do so, we can arrange an accommodation.