New York statute
N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 680.20 — Examination of witnesses on commission; when commission issuable; form and content of application
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 680: Securing Testimony Outside the State For Use In Proceeding Within the State-- Examination of Witnesses On Commission, New York Criminal Procedure Law.
Full text of N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 680.20
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
680.20 Examination of witnesses on commission; when commission
issuable; form and content of application.
1. Upon a pre-trial application of a defendant who has pleaded not
guilty to an indictment or other accusatory instrument which charges a
crime, the superior court in which such indictment is pending, or a
superior court in the county in which such other accusatory instrument
is pending, may issue a commission for examination of a designated
person as a witness in the action, at a designated place outside this
state, if it is satisfied that (a) such person possesses information
material to the action which in the interest of justice should be
disclosed at the trial, and (b) resides outside the state.
2. The application and moving papers must be in writing and must be
subscribed and sworn to by the defendant or his attorney. A copy
thereof must be served on the district attorney, with reasonable notice
and opportunity to be heard. The moving papers must allege:
(a) The offense or offenses charged; and
(b) The status of the action; and
(c) The name of the prospective witness; and
(d) A statement that such prospective witness resides outside the
state, and his address in the jurisdiction in which the examination
sought is to occur; and
(e) A statement that he possesses information material to the action
which in the interest of justice should be disclosed at the trial,
together with a brief summary of the facts supporting such statement.
3. An application for issuance of a commission may request
examination pursuant thereto of more than one person residing in the
particular jurisdiction. In such case, it must contain allegations
specified in subdivision two with respect to each such person, and the
court must make separate rulings as to each.
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