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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63518</law_id><section_number>54.1-3925.3</section_number><catch_line>Authority for subpoenas; qualified privilege and immunity</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Professions Regulated by the Supreme Court</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="39">Attorneys</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="4">Examinations and Issuance of Licenses</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In the conduct of investigations and <span class="dictionary">hearings</span>, the Board and character and fitness committee may administer <span class="dictionary">oaths</span> and affirmations and may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> <span class="dictionary">subpoenas</span> for the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, books, accounts, documents, and other records or tangible <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> relevant to any such investigation or <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>. Any <span class="dictionary">subpoena</span> shall be issued in the name of the Board and be signed by a member of the Board or by its secretary. <a id="paragraph-231400" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3925.3/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If any person fails or refuses to obey a <span class="dictionary">subpoena</span>, or to give <span class="dictionary">testimony</span>, the Board shall notify the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the county or city wherein the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> is or was to have been held, or where the documents or tangible things were to have been produced. On receipt of the notice, the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an <span class="dictionary">order</span> compelling such person&#x2019;s attendance or <span class="dictionary">testimony</span>, or both, or the production of the documents or tangible things, to the same extent as could be required in a proceeding in <span class="dictionary">court</span>. <a id="paragraph-231401" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3925.3/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Information furnished to and <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> given before the Board or the character and fitness committee in the course of an investigation or <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> shall be privileged, and any person furnishing information or giving <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> shall be immune from civil liability therefor, unless it is shown that such person was motivated by actual <span class="dictionary">malice</span>. <a id="paragraph-231402" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3925.3/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1992, c. 734.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
