2C:104-2. Application for material witness order

2C:104-2 Application for material witness order.

a. The Attorney General, county prosecutor or defendant in a criminal action may apply to a judge of the Superior Court for an order compelling a person to appear at a material witness hearing, if there is probable cause to believe that: (1) the person has information material to the prosecution or defense of a pending indictment, accusation or complaint for a crime or a criminal investigation before a grand jury and (2) the person is unlikely to respond to a subpoena. The application may be accompanied by an application for an arrest warrant when there is probable cause to believe that the person will not appear at the material witness hearing unless arrested.

b. The application shall include a copy of any pending indictment, complaint or accusation and an affidavit containing: (1) the name and address of the person alleged to be a material witness, (2) a summary of the facts believed to be known by the alleged material witness and the relevance to the criminal action or investigation, (3) a summary of the facts supporting the belief that the person possesses information material to the pending criminal action or investigation, and (4) a summary of the facts supporting the claim that the alleged material witness is unlikely to respond to a subpoena.

c. If the application requests an arrest warrant, the affidavit shall set forth why immediate arrest is necessary.

Source: 2A:162-2.

L.1994,c.126,s.2.