subpoenaed

Definition

To have been ordered by a court or legal authority to appear as a witness or produce specific evidence.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'sub poena', meaning 'under penalty,' referring to the punishment imposed for failing to obey the legal command.

In the news

In the context of the Fifth Amendment, the term describes individuals who have been formally ordered to testify or provide documents, potentially triggering their right to refuse to self-incriminate.

'Pleading the Fifth' invokes a constitutional amendment that has a long history in U.S. society

Japan Today

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