Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-7-703 (2026)

Subpoenas - Refusal to obey - Penalty

✓ current as of May 2026
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In case of contumacy by or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any person, any court of this state within the jurisdiction of which the inquiry is carried on, or within the jurisdiction of which the person guilty of contumacy or refusal to obey is found or resides or transacts business, upon application by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, an unemployment hearing officer, or any duly authorized representative of any of them, shall have jurisdiction to issue to the person an order requiring that person to appear before the commissioner, the commissioner's designee, an unemployment hearing officer, or any duly authorized representative of any of them, there to produce evidence if so ordered, or there to give testimony touching the matter under investigation or in question. Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of the court, and, in addition to the contempt proceeding, any person who without just cause fails or refuses to attend and testify or to answer any lawful inquiry or to produce books, papers, correspondence, memoranda and other records, if it is in the person's power so to do, in obedience to a subpoena of the commissioner, the commissioner's designee, an unemployment hearing officer or any duly authorized representative of any of them, commits a Class C misdemeanor.

Acts 1947, ch. 29, § 11; C. Supp. 1950, § 6901.11 (Williams, § 6901.35); T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 50-1341; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 2003, ch. 191, § 8; 2010, ch. 1042, § 18.


Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 1990–2016 · leading case: Harney v. Meadowbrook Nursing Ctr., 784 S.W.2d 921 (Tenn. 1990).
Harney v. Meadowbrook Nursing Ctr., 784 S.W.2d 921 (Tenn. 1990). · cites it 6× “The complaint charged that the termination of employment violated the public policy of the State of Tennessee as set forth in T.C.A. § 50-7-703 and T.C.A. Title 50, Chapter 5.”
Blue Sky Painting Co. v. Burns Phillips, Comm'r (Tenn. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 9× “The trial court erred in its ruling that Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-7-703 and/or 712 provide parties upon which administrative subpoenas are served meaningful judicial review; and c.”
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