West Virginia Code 62-2-13 – Process, capias and summons in criminal cases
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When an indictment or presentment is found or made, the court shall award process against the accused to answer to the same, if he be not in custody. Such process, if for a felony, may be a capias or a summons, at the discretion of the court; in all misdemeanor cases, it shall be, in the first instance, a summons, but if a summons be returned executed, or be returned not found, and the defendant does not appear, the court may award a capias.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 62-2-13
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
- Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.