During which phase of a lawsuit are subpoenas issued?

Subpoenas are typically issued during the interrogatory or pretrial discovery phase of a lawsuit. This phase is crucial for both parties to gather evidence and information relevant to the case before it goes to trial. During discovery, parties can request documents, take depositions, and issue subpoenas to compel third parties to provide testimony or produce evidence. This process helps ensure that both sides have access to the necessary information to prepare their cases, thereby promoting fairness in the legal proceedings.

The trial phase focuses on presenting evidence and arguments to a judge or jury, and while subpoenas can be mentioned for evidence, they are primarily used in the discovery phase to gather that evidence. The appeals phase occurs after a trial has concluded, often addressing legal errors that may have affected the outcome rather than introducing new evidence. Lastly, the final judgment phase pertains to the conclusion of a case and does not involve the issuance of subpoenas, as all evidence should be submitted beforehand. Therefore, identifying the issuing of subpoenas during the discovery phase aligns with the procedural context of legal proceedings.