The United States District Court for the Northern District of California announces a new, efficient procedure for requesting criminal subpoenas for testimony. Attorneys may now request subpoenas in criminal cases through the court’s Electronic Case Filing (ECF) system, eliminating the need to present such requests in person at the courthouse. Criminal subpoena forms issued through ECF will include the Clerk of Court’s signature superimposed over the court seal but will otherwise remain blank, in accordance with Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 17(a).

How to obtain a criminal subpoena form signed and sealed by the Clerk of Court

1. Log in to ECF.
2. Navigate to the Criminal tab, then to Criminal Subpoena Forms and click on Signed Subpoena Forms.
3. Download a blank subpoena form in fillable PDF format.
4. Complete the form by filling in the required fields and print.

Please note the following guidelines when requesting blank subpoena forms:

• Forms are subject to change, and each new request will generate the most current version of the subpoena form. A downloaded form should not be saved for future use.
• Subpoena forms may only be requested for use in a pending case.
• The request process does not require a case number to be entered in ECF, and no record of the request will appear on the public docket.

Pro se litigants must submit requests for subpoenas in paper form directly to the Clerk’s Office.