(a) If a person comes into this state in obedience to a summons directing the witness to attend and testify in this state, the witness shall not, while in this state pursuant to the summons, be subject to arrest or the service of process, civil or criminal, in connection with matters which arose before the witness’s entrance into this state under the summons.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-17-209

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • State: includes any territory of the United States and the District of Columbia. See Tennessee Code 40-17-202
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Summons: includes a subpoena, order or other notice requiring the appearance of a witness. See Tennessee Code 40-17-202
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Witness: includes a person whose testimony is desired in any proceeding or investigation by a grand jury or in a criminal action, prosecution or proceeding. See Tennessee Code 40-17-202
(b) If a person passes through this state while going to another state in obedience to a summons to attend and testify in that state, or while returning from that other state, the witness shall not, while so passing through this state, be subject to arrest or the service of process, civil or criminal, in connection with matters which arose before the witness’s entrance into this state under the summons.
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