5:9-10. Subpoenas; failure to appear

The commission shall have the power to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, papers, books, records and other evidence before it in any matter over which it has jurisdiction, control or supervision. The commission shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations to persons whose testimony is required. If a person subpoenaed to attend in any such proceeding or hearing fails to obey the command of the subpoena without reasonable cause, or if a person in attendance in any such proceeding or hearing refuses, without lawful cause, to be examined or to answer a legal or pertinent question or to exhibit any book, account, record or other document when ordered so to do by the commission, the commission may apply to any judge of the Superior Court, upon proof by affidavit of the facts, for an order returnable in not less than 2 nor more than 10 days, or as the court shall prescribe, directing such person to show cause before the court why he should not comply with such subpoena or such order.

Upon return of the order, the court before whom the matter shall come on for hearing shall examine such person under oath, and if the court shall determine, after giving such person an opportunity to be heard, that he refused without legal excuse to comply with such subpoena or such order of the director, the court may order such person to comply therewith forthwith and any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished as a contempt of the Superior Court.

L.1970, c. 13, s. 10, eff. Feb. 16, 1970.