A legal document that requires a person to appear in court is known as what?

A legal document that requires a person to appear in court is known as a subpoena. This term specifically refers to a writ or order compelling someone to attend a legal proceeding, whether it be a trial, hearing, or deposition. A subpoena can also require the production of evidence, such as documents or records that may be relevant to the case.

In contrast, a court order refers to a directive issued by a judge requiring a party to do or refrain from doing something. A summons, while it also involves a legal notification, typically serves to notify an individual of a lawsuit against them and compels them to respond, rather than mandating attendance as a subpoena does. Testimony refers to the evidence given by a witness under oath during a legal proceeding and does not relate to the issuance of documents compelling attendance in court.