If u get summons to go to court do u have to go!!?

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Tara B	I think you do but if its a matter of not feeling safe or something i think there are ways out of it you should call up to the court and ask. It cant hurt. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

alwayson	You be held in contempt.You will pay a killer fine and maybe even go to jail.Try it and you'll see first hand. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

HumanToe	YES It's illegal to stand up Uncle Sam. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Faith	Im pretty sure you have to, unless you are physically unable to go.* Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Jennifer	Go to court, or go to jail? Hmmmmm.... Let me think about it and get back to you. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Numb Nuts	you can stay home and hope they dont arrest you...you have a summons...its a legal document you must honor it... Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

marieglowaski	Iwould go and do what you have to it is always best in the long run. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

kaimar24	Yes. The summons is a legally binding order requiring you to attend court. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Sarah	Yes, you do need to go, otherwise, you could be subpoenaed to testify. If you still refuse after being subpoenaed, you could get jail time. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

VJ	Man.. a witness =/.. your gonna have to go. I thought you meant Jury Duty.. THATS another story xD Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Damocles	Failure to appear in court when you have been summonsed is considered to be 'contempt of court' and can get you a visit to your local jail. Frankly, you can end up staying in jail for as long as the judge decides to keep you. Having said that, it's usually a day by day basis. After your first day, they ask you if you are willing to testify in court now, and if you say "no", you stay for another day, and then they ask you if you are ready to come to court now, etc. until you say "yes". Lying in court is "perjury" which can get you years in jail. So don't think about coming to court and lying. Frankly, you have have any fear about your testimony netting you some retribution, talk to the prosecutor about it. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

usmc1050	If your just a witness, you don't HAVE to go, but many times the law will continue to summons you as long as they know you have somthing they need, its a technicality, you don't have to go, but they can force you to go. do you really want to be a kink in the justice chain? I would go, cus if you get Subpena in the mail, than you have to go, so if you don't go, then they court will issue you with a Subpeana. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Real Kelly Bundy	never ever mess with the law....... no matter who says its ok. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

gator	Yes, you are bound by a judge. If you don't show, an arrest warrant will be issued in your name. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Jake	Yes, otherwise you could be jailed for contempt. Go. They can't force you to testify, but they can require that you show up. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Sandhya	i don't think you have to, but you should call the court or whatever number there is on your notice to see for sure whether or not you have to be present. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

My Thoughts U Can't Decode	Is it a supeona? If you don't go you could be arrested. If you are the defendant and don't go, you will lose by default. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Joseph Hyde&Future Mrs. Hyde	yes you do. if you dont you could be in serious trouble Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

jax	Yes you should go unless you have a valid reason and even then you could face a fine or even jail as you could be in contempt of court. Talk to a solicitor to clairfy your rights and to cover yourself. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Cassiopeia Moonstone	Someone asked the same question here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080724192757AAqRwHx Apparently, you only have to go if you are subpoenaed. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

laughter_every_day	It is says you are ordered by the court to appear, then refusal of court order is punishable as contempt of court. If you got a weird one that says you are invited to appear, feel free to decline. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

BusyOldBag	Yes, or you can wait and be arrested. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

lbloom	you will get a bench warrant out for your arrest Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Xtina	you have to go. its not optional. unless you get immunity, you have to go. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

jjseifi	You will go to jail if you don't. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Brian B	Why would they summon you if you didn't have to go? That's the whole point of a "summons" Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

That Guy	yes you do Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

jnbcw	Yes. Failing to show is against the law. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Lil' E.	yes, that is the concept of a summons, the court wants you there. not going will have its consequences, not sure for your situation. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Jay	You can be found in contempt of court and jailed until it is time for you to testify. (Perhaps longer.) The judge will be extremely unhappy with you and can even saddle you with a fine in addition to jail time. It would be beneficial to your comfort and freedom to honor the summons. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

CowboySnoopy	First off what did you witness. Depending on the crime you do have to attend. Other than that if it's for nothing too serious you don't have to show up. The state will always pick up the case. They won't go straight to jury trial, if you go it will be weeks before you see a jury. You'll talk to the DA and the defense attorney at the pre-trial/hearing. Then after all that they will the schedule the jury parts. Even with the pictures if there is no witness; beside the defendant and only their word, it will be dismissed. The police can only say what happened when they showed up. There is no evidence of who started what and if the defendant was only defending themselve. I know plenty of people that has happened to. About 2 years ago I got arrested for a fight and the other girl never showed up for court and the case was dismissed because the DA couldn't produce a victim or witness. They had pictures also. You could always just tell the DA you don't want to. They can not hold you in jail because you refuse to testify. If all else plead the fifth. Since you said it was only a summons you don't have to show up. You got that in the mail, right? If a guy shows up with a subpoena that you have to sign for then you do have to. I've never known anyone that ever got arrested or fined for not going. That's how it works here in Wisconsin. It's not like it's a murder case. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No