§ 9408 Committee Witness Enforcement

Government Code·California

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Key Takeaways

•If someone refuses to show up or answer questions for a committee when the Legislature isn't in session, the committee can ask a court to make them do it.
•The court can force the person to come, answer questions, and bring any papers or documents the committee asked for.
•This only happens if the committee files a request with the court first.

Example

A committee is investigating a problem with schools, but a teacher won't come to talk or share their records.

The committee can go to court and ask a judge to make the teacher show up and bring the records they need.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 9408 Committee Witness Enforcement

If the contempt is committed before a committee when the Legislature is not in session, the superior court in and for the county in which any inquiry, investigation, hearing or proceeding may be held by the committee may compel the attendance of the witness, the giving of testimony, and the production of books, papers, documents and accounts, as required by the subpena issued by the committee, on the filing by the committee of a petition to the court asking that the witness be so compelled. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 134.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

subpoena legislature hearing investigation attendance production petition

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Government Code. Section 9408.

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Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References