When it appears to the court at a hearing or trial that the attendance or testimony of any person or the production of any document or tangible thing not produced by any party is necessary for the purpose of justice, the court (a) may order any party to produce the document or tangible thing for inspection by the court, or (b) may issue a subpoena for the production of the person, document, or tangible thing; and in either event the court may continue the hearing or trial to allow compliance with the order or subpoena, upon such conditions as to time, notice, cost, and security as the court deems proper.
Rule 3-514.When court may require production of evidence
District Court · Last amended July 1, 1986 · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3-514 lets a District Court judge, on its own initiative, order a person, document, or thing that no party produced to be brought forward when justice requires it.
Full Text of Rule 3-514
Amendment History
Amended Apr. 7, 1986, effective July 1, 1986.
Committee Note & Source
Source. This Rule is derived from former Rule 521.
Plain-English Summary
This rule fills a gap the parties leave open. If it becomes clear during a hearing or trial that a witness's attendance, a witness's testimony, or a document or object no party has produced is necessary in the interest of justice, the court doesn't have to wait for a motion. It can order a party to produce the document or thing for the court's own inspection, or it can issue a subpoena to bring in the person, document, or thing directly.
Because this kind of order can come up mid-proceeding, the rule gives the court room to manage the practical fallout: it may continue the hearing or trial to allow time for compliance, and it can attach conditions on timing, notice, cost, and security as it sees fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a judge order evidence produced even if neither party asked for it?
Yes. If the court decides at a hearing or trial that a person's attendance or testimony, or a document or thing no party produced, is necessary for justice, it can order production or issue a subpoena on its own initiative.
What if complying with the court's order takes time?
The court may continue the hearing or trial to allow time for compliance, and it can set conditions on timing, notice, cost, and security as part of that order.
Does a court-ordered subpoena under this rule follow the same rules as an ordinary subpoena?
The rule doesn't spell out separate mechanics for a court-issued subpoena, so the general subpoena procedures in Rule 3-510 — form, service, and enforcement — apply to it as well.
Source & verification. Rule text, Committee Note, Source note, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Maryland Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Maryland. Last verified July 13, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: court orders evidence produced Maryland District Courtjudge subpoena on own motion Marylandcourt-ordered production of documents Maryland