subpoena

A legal document ordering a person to attend court as a witness or to produce documents; to issue such an order.

• subpoenaed(adj/past tense)

• issue a subpoena
• serve a subpoena
• subpoena a witness
• subpoena documents
• comply with a subpoena
• quash a subpoena

1. 1.The committee subpoenaed the company's financial records to determine whether executives had committed fraud. (compel production of documents)
2. 2.Ignoring a subpoena can result in contempt of court charges — it's not a polite invitation but a legal command. (legal compulsion)

• summons/ˈsʌmənz/— order to appear in court
• writ— formal written court order

from Latin "sub poena" (under penalty) — appear "under penalty" of punishment — the threat that compels compliance