§ 9-17-1. Form of subpoena. The form of subpoena to a witness shall be substantially as follows: Sc. To ………………… of ……………. Greeting: You are hereby required, in the name of the state of Rhode Island, to make your appearance before ………. holden at ………. on the ………. day of ………. to give evidence of […]
§ 9-17-10. Discharge from custody on giving of recognizance. The witness may give recognizance as provided in § 9-17-9 while in custody of the officer, before he or she is committed to jail; and thereupon the officer shall discharge him or her from custody. History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 368; G.L. 1909, ch. 292, § […]
§ 9-17-11. Civil liability for failure to attend. Every witness who does not appear according to the tenor of the subpoena, and has no reasonable excuse for his or her nonappearance, shall be liable to an action by the aggrieved party for all damages sustained in consequence of the default. History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § […]
§ 9-17-12. Competency of parties or interested persons. No person shall be disqualified from testifying in any civil action or proceeding by reason of his or her being interested therein or being a party thereto. History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 389; G.L. 1909, ch. 292, § 37; G.L. 1923, ch. 342, § 37; G.L. 1938, […]
§ 9-17-13. Spouses of parties. In the trial of every civil cause, the husband or wife of either party shall be deemed a competent witness; provided, that neither shall be permitted to give any testimony tending to criminate the other or to disclose any communication made to him or her, by the other, during their […]
§ 9-17-14. Repealed. History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 537, § 58; P.L. 1939, ch. 705, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 9-17-14; Repealed by P.L. 1987, ch. 381, § 4. Section 7 of P.L. 1987, ch. 381 provides that the repeal of this section by that Act shall take effect on the date that Rhode Island […]
§ 9-17-15. Effect of conviction for crime. No person shall be deemed an incompetent witness because of his or her conviction of any crime, or sentence to imprisonment therefor; but shall be admitted to testify like any other witness, except that conviction or sentence for any crime or misdemeanor may be shown to affect his […]
§ 9-17-16. Repealed. History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 390; G.L. 1909, ch. 292, § 38; G.L. 1923, ch. 342, § 38; G.L. 1938, ch. 537, § 18; G.L. 1956, § 9-17-16; Repealed by P.L. 1987, ch. 381, § 4. Section 7 of P.L. 1987, ch. 381 provides that the repeal of this section by that […]
§ 9-17-17. Cross-examination not a waiver of exception. Where the testimony of a witness upon any subject, at any trial or hearing, is admitted by the court, and exception thereto is taken, the cross-examination of the witness upon the subject, by the party excepting thereto, shall not be considered a waiver of the exception. History […]
§ 9-17-18. Certificate of days and mileage as prerequisite to payment of fees. Every witness, previous to his or her obtaining any fee, except the amount which, in certain cases, must be tendered to him or her before he or she can be compelled to attend, shall give a certificate to the court wherein he […]
§ 9-17-19 — 9-17-21. Repealed. History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, §§ 370-372; G.L. 1909, ch. 292, §§ 18-20; G.L. 1923, ch. 342, §§ 18-20; G.L. 1938, ch. 537, §§ 20-22; G.L. 1956, §§ 9-17-19 — 9-17-21; P.L. 1965, ch. 55, § 31; P.L. 1972, ch. 169, § 6; P.L. 1979, ch. 373, § 6; Repealed by […]
§ 9-17-2. Subpoenas by court clerks and district court judges. Clerks of court and judges of the district court may issue subpoenas to witnesses in all cases pending in their own or any other court. History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 358; G.L. 1909, ch. 292, § 4; G.L. 1923, ch. 342, § 4; G.L. 1938, […]
§ 9-17-22. Expert fees as costs. Fees of experts, except as provided in the Rules of Evidence, shall not be allowed as part of the costs in any case in excess of the fees allowed for ordinary witnesses. History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 373; G.L. 1909, ch. 292, § 21; G.L. 1923, ch. 342, § […]
§ 9-17-23. Privileged communications to clergy. In the trial of every cause, both civil and criminal, no member of the clergy or priest shall be competent to testify concerning any confession made to him or her in his or her professional character in the course of discipline enjoined by the church to which he or […]
§ 9-17-24. Privileged communications to and information obtained by health care providers. In every legal action, both civil and criminal, no health care provider shall be competent to testify concerning any information obtained about a patient, nor shall he or she be required to produce any documentary evidence obtained about a patient, in the course […]
§ 9-17-25. Privileged communication — Interpreter. Whenever a sign language interpreter is used to facilitate a communication which is privileged pursuant to either statutory law or common law between parties, one or more of whom is hearing impaired, the sign language interpreter shall not be compelled to testify in any forum regarding that communication. History […]
§ 9-17-3. Subpoenas issued by other officials. Auditors, referees, masters in chancery, and commissioners may issue subpoenas to witnesses in all cases and matters pending before them, respectively; and justices of the peace and notaries public may issue subpoenas to witnesses in any case, civil or criminal, before any court, and in any matter before […]
§ 9-17-4. Service of subpoena. A subpoena to a witness shall be served by delivering a copy to him or her. History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 361; G.L. 1909, ch. 292, § 7; G.L. 1923, ch. 342, § 7; G.L. 1938, ch. 537, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 9-17-4; P.L. 1965, ch. 55, § 31.
§ 9-17-5. Duty to attend when subpoenaed. Every witness who shall be duly served with a subpoena in behalf of any party to a suit or proceeding, civil or criminal, and shall have his or her lawful fees tendered to him or her for his or her travel from his or her place of abode […]
§ 9-17-5.1. Subpoena for production of documentary evidence. (a) When a subpoena for the production of books, papers, documents, or tangible things is served on a federal or state agency, public utility, national bank, insurance company, financial institution, or a public or private institution of higher education organized under state or federal laws, it shall […]
