Material Witness Matters
Many popular television shows bounce around the phrase “material witness.” What exactly is a material witness? A material witness is on who is needed to testify in a criminal case or before a grand jury investigating a criminal matter. If you have been subpoenaed to testify in a criminal case, and you fail to appear, the party who subpoenaed you may ask the judge to issue what is called a material witness warrant. The party must show that you were properly served with the subpoena, that you are willfully avoiding appearing in court, that your presence is necessary and material to the case. If a judge determines that your testimony is material and that you are not likely to appear in court, the judge can have you taken into police custody. You could end up sitting in jail until you testify.
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