Subpoenas

What Do I Do When I Receive a Subpoena?

Remember that a subpoena is a court order for you to appear in court on the date and time shown.

  • Call 530-552-5580 to confirm your receipt of your subpoena.
    • Be prepared to give the case name and number from the front of the subpoena.
    • Be prepared to give your Name, Date of Birth, and your Driver's License number or Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) ID Card number.
  • Please follow the prompts and enter the required information.

Cancellations

  • Please check this website after 5:00 PM on the business day before your court appearance date to confirm that your attendance is still required.
  • Check for the name of the defendant, which appears on the front of your subpoena.
  • If you have further questions, please call 552-5580 between 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
  • View the Subpoena Cancellations List (PDF)

Information for Victims

If you are a victim in a case, please contact our Victim Assistance Bureau at 530-538-7340 or by email. To determine the status of a criminal case filed in the Butte County Superior Court, one can search online records of the Butte County Superior Court.

Information for Subpoenaed Witnesses

If you have received a subpoena and have questions about the case, please contact our office at 530-538-7411. Your subpoena contains explicit instructions on what to do, what a subpoena is and how and when to check to determine if the case has been cancelled or delayed.

Information for Defendants

If you are a defendant in a criminal case and are represented by an attorney, our office is prohibited from communicating directly or indirectly with you regarding your case. (California Rules of Professional Conduct 2-100.)

Suspects charged with a crime may request a court appointed attorney. The opportunity to request a court appointed criminal defense attorney is possible when a suspect first appears in court in front of a judge. A suspect's first appearance in court following any arrest, citation or notice to appear is called an arraignment and at arraignment, a judge may appoint an attorney to represent a suspect charged with a crime.