Maine § 9060. - Subpoenas and discovery

§ 9060.. Subpoenas and discovery

1.  Proceedings.  In any adjudicatory proceeding for which the agency, by independent statute, has authority to issue subpoenas, any party shall be entitled as of right to their issuance in the name of the agency to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of any evidence relating to any issue of fact in the proceeding.

In any proceeding in which the conducting agency lacks independent authority to issue subpoenas, any party may request the issuance of a subpoena by the agency, and the agency is hereby authorized to issue the same if it first obtains the approval of the Attorney General or of any deputy attorney general. Such approval shall be given when the testimony or evidence sought is relevant to any issue of fact in the proceeding.  

When properly authorized, subpoenas may be issued by the agency or by any person designated by the agency for that purpose, in accordance with the following provisions:  

A. The agency may prescribe the form of subpoena, but it shall adhere, insofar as practicable, to the form used in civil cases before the courts. Witnesses shall be subpoenaed only within the territorial limits and in the same manner as witnesses in civil cases before the courts, unless another territory or manner is provided by law. Witnesses subpoenaed shall be paid the same fees for attendance and travel as in civil cases before the courts. Such fees shall be paid by the party requesting the subpoena.   [PL 1977, c. 551, §3 (NEW).]

B. Any subpoena issued shall show on its face the name and address of the party at whose request it was issued.   [PL 1977, c. 551, §3 (NEW).]

C. Any witness subpoenaed may petition the agency to vacate or modify a subpoena issued in its name. The agency shall give prompt notice to the party who requested issuance of the subpoena. After such investigation as the agency considers appropriate, it may grant the petition in whole or in part upon a finding that the testimony or the evidence whose production is required does not relate with reasonable directness to any matter in question, or that a subpoena for the attendance of a witness or the production of evidence is unreasonable or oppressive or has not been issued a reasonable period in advance of the time when the evidence is requested.   [PL 1977, c. 551, §3 (NEW).]

D. Failure to comply with a subpoena lawfully issued in the name of the agency and not revoked or modified by the agency as provided in this section shall be punishable as for contempt of court.   [PL 1977, c. 694, §36 (AMD).]

2.  Adoption of rules.  Each agency having power to conduct adjudicatory proceedings may adopt rules providing for discovery to the extent and in the manner appropriate to its proceeding.