(a) A subpoena requiring the attendance of witnesses, and a subpoena duces tecum for the production of books, records, documents, and other evidence, at an arbitration proceeding or a deposition under Sections 1283 and 1283.05 for the purposes of discovery, shall be issued as provided in this section. In addition, the neutral arbitrator upon their own determination may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and subpoenas duces tecum for the production of books, records, documents, and other evidence.
§ 1282.6.Subpoenas
Title 9. Arbitration · Chapter 3. Conduct of Arbitration Proceedings · Last amended 2025 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1282.6 governs how subpoenas for witnesses and for documents are issued in an arbitration proceeding or discovery deposition, allowing them to be issued signed but blank to the requesting party by a neutral administering organization or by the arbitrator, and requiring service and enforcement under the code's general subpoena rules.
Full Text of § 1282.6
(b) Subpoenas shall be issued, as of course, signed but otherwise in blank, to the party requesting them, by a neutral association, organization, governmental agency, or office if the arbitration agreement provides for administration of the arbitration proceedings by, or under the rules of, a neutral association, organization, governmental agency or office, or by the neutral arbitrator.
(c) The party serving the subpoena shall fill it in before service. Subpoenas shall be served and enforced in accordance with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1985) of Title 3 of Part 4 of this code.
Plain-English Summary
Arbitration still needs a way to compel witnesses and documents, and this section supplies it. It covers subpoenas requiring a witness's attendance and subpoenas duces tecum for producing books, records, documents, and other evidence, whether at the arbitration hearing itself or at a discovery deposition taken under Sections 1283 and 1283.05. The neutral arbitrator can also issue a subpoena on their own initiative, without waiting for a party to ask.
The issuing mechanics keep things practical: subpoenas are issued signed but otherwise blank, as a matter of course, to whichever party requests them. If the arbitration agreement calls for administration by a neutral association, organization, governmental agency, or office under its own rules, that body issues the subpoena; otherwise the neutral arbitrator does. The party serving the subpoena fills in the blanks before serving it, and service and enforcement follow the same general subpoena chapter used throughout the code for civil actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can issue a subpoena in an arbitration?
The neutral association, organization, agency, or office named in the arbitration agreement to administer the proceedings, or the neutral arbitrator.
Does the arbitrator need a party's request before issuing a subpoena?
No -- the arbitrator may issue one on their own determination.
What rules govern serving and enforcing an arbitration subpoena?
The same general subpoena provisions used in civil litigation throughout the code.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats 2024 ch 986 (SB 940),s 6, eff. 1/1/2025. Amended by Stats 2022 ch 420 (AB 2960),s 11, eff. 1/1/2023. Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 108, Sec. 1.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: arbitration subpoena californiasubpoena duces tecum arbitration