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D.C. Super. Ct. Dom. Rel. R. 28-I

Interstate Depositions and Discovery Procedures

activein force · 2025-12-11 – presentact-effective-date

(a) IN GENERAL. In seeking to conduct interstate depositions and discovery, parties

may proceed under any of the following provisions.

(b) INTERSTATE DEPOSITIONS AND DISCOVERY PROCEDURES UNDER THE

UNIFORM INTERSTATE DEPOSITIONS AND DISCOVERY ACT, D.C. CODE §§ 13-

441 to -449.

(1) Issuance of Subpoena.

(A) To request a subpoena under D.C. Code § 13-443, a party must submit a

foreign subpoena to the clerk and the written affirmation required by Rule 28-I(b)(2)(A).

A request for the issuance of a subpoena under the Uniform Interstate Depositions and

Discovery Act does not constitute an appearance in the courts of the District of

Columbia.

(B) When a party submits a foreign subpoena to the clerk, the clerk, in accordance

with these rules, must promptly issue a subpoena for service on the person to which the

foreign subpoena is directed.

(C) A subpoena under Rule 28-I(b)(1)(B) must:

(i) incorporate the terms used in the foreign subpoena; and

(ii) contain or be accompanied by the names, addresses, and telephone numbers

of all counsel of record in the proceeding to which the subpoena relates and of any

party not represented by counsel.

(2) Affirmation of Noninterference with Bodily Autonomy.

(A) A party or the party’s counsel requesting issuance of a subpoena under Rule 28-

I(b)(1) must submit a written statement, signed by the party seeking enforcement or the

party’s counsel, swearing or affirming under penalty of perjury that no portion of the

foreign subpoena is intended or anticipated to further any investigation or proceeding of

a type described in D.C. Code § 2-1461.01(a).

(B) A foreign subpoena not conforming to the requirements of Rule 28-I(b)(2)(A) will

not be accepted for filing.

(C) If a party or the party’s counsel refuses to provide the Affirmation of

Noninterference with Bodily Autonomy, the clerk must send to the person to whom the

foreign subpoena is directed, by first class mail at the address shown in the subpoena,

a copy of the foreign subpoena and a notice that it is not recognized as a valid foreign

subpoena because it does not include the affirmation required by Rule 28-I(b)(2)(A).

(3) Service of Subpoena. A subpoena issued by a clerk under Rule 28-I(b)(1) must be

served in compliance with D.C. Code § 11-942 and Rule 45.

(4) Deposition, Production, and Inspection. The rules applicable to compliance with

subpoenas to attend and give testimony, produce designated books, documents,

records, electronically stored information, or tangible things, or permit inspection of

premises apply to subpoenas issued under Rule 28-I(b)(1).

(5) Motions Regarding Subpoena. A motion for a protective order or to enforce,

quash, or modify a subpoena issued by a clerk under Rule 28-I(b)(1) must comply with

these rules and laws of the District of Columbia and must be submitted to the Superior

Court.

(c) ASSISTANCE TO TRIBUNALS AND LITIGANTS OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA PURSUANT TO D.C. CODE § 13-434.

(1) Pursuant to Court Order. Upon application by any interested person or in response

to letters rogatory issued by a tribunal outside the District of Columbia, the Superior

Court may order service on any person who is domiciled or can be found within the

District of Columbia of any document issued in connection with a proceeding in a

tribunal outside the District of Columbia. The order must direct the manner of service.

(2) Without Court Order. Service in connection with a proceeding in a tribunal outside

the District of Columbia may be made inside the District of Columbia without an order of

the court.

(3) Effect. Service under Rule 28-I(c) does not, of itself, require the recognition or

enforcement of an order, judgment, or decree rendered outside the District of Columbia.

(d) COMMISSIONS OR NOTICES FOR TESTIMONY UNDER D.C. CODE § 14-103.

When a commission is issued or notice given to take the testimony of a witness found

within the District of Columbia, to be used in an action pending in a court of a state,

territory, commonwealth, possession, or a place under the jurisdiction of the United

States, the party seeking that testimony may file with this court a certified copy of the

commission or notice. Upon approval by the judge in chambers of the commission or

notice and the proposed subpoena, the clerk must issue a subpoena compelling the

designated witness to appear for deposition at a specified time and place. Testimony

taken under this section must be taken in the manner prescribed in these rules and the

court may entertain any motion, including motions for quashing service of a subpoena

and for issuance of protective orders, in the same manner as if the action were pending

in this court.

History

COMMENT TO 2025 AMENDMENTS Section (b) of the rule has been amended to implement the Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022, D.C. Law 24-257, § 201, 70 D.C. Reg. 2929 (2023), D.C. Code §§ 13-443, -449, which amended the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act to restrict enforcement of foreign subpoenas in interstate investigations and proceedings that interfere with the right of bodily autonomy under section 101(a) of the Act, D.C. Code § 2-1461.01(a). The amendments are identical to the 2025 amendments to Civil Rule 28-I. New subsection (b)(2) implements the Act’s affirmation requirement, D.C. Code §13-449. Former subsections (b)(2), b(3), and b(4) have been redesignated (b)(3), (b)(4), and (b)(5), respectively. Section (b) has also been amended to conform with the general restyling of the Superior Court rules. To the extent the Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022 includes procedural rules, the Court has adopted them pursuant to its exclusive rulemaking authority under D.C. Code § 11-946. See Woodroof v. Cunningham, 147 A.3d 777 (D.C. 2016). COMMENT TO 2018 AMENDMENTS Rule 28-I is new. It conforms to Civil Rule 28-I and to the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, which was adopted in 2010.

Provenance

Source
dccourts.gov
Retrieved
2026-09-14
Edition
2026-09-14
Content hash
84f6f53cae534b071b5e76c3afcd2cbdd19c4021fe2b199b7cd87835ebcef1f9
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