Who issues subpoenas and what form?

• A. The clerk of court shall issue subpoena, signed but otherwise blank to party requesting it
• B. The judge signs subpoenas individually
• C. The attorney signs subpoenas with his own name
• D. The sheriff signs subpoenas with a notary

Answer: (A)

In North Carolina civil procedure, subpoenas are issued by the clerk of the court for the county where the case is pending. The subpoena form is signed by the clerk but left blank in the identifying parts, so the party requesting it can fill in the witness’s name, the place and time of appearance, and, if applicable, the scope (such as documents to be produced). This setup gives the subpoena the court’s authority while allowing the requesting party to tailor the specifics to the individual witness and the information sought. After issuance, the party then serves the subpoena on the witness in accordance with the applicable service rules.