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RULE 45. TIME

Effective Date: 3/1/1999

Obsolete Date: 3/1/2001

(a) Computation. In computing any period of time the day of the act or event from which the designated period of time begins to run may not be included. The last day of the period so computed must be included, unless it is a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday. When a period of time prescribed or allowed is less than seven days, intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays must be excluded in the computation. Service by facsimile transmission must be completed by 5:00 p.m., receiver's time, on a weekday, which is not a legal holiday, or service is considered made on the following weekday which is not a legal holiday.

(b) Enlargement. When an act is required or allowed to be done at or within a specified time, the court for cause shown may at any time in its discretion (1) with or without motion or notice, order the period enlarged if request therefor is made before the expiration of the period originally prescribed or as extended by a previous order, or (2) upon motion made after the expiration of the specified period permit the act to be done if the failure to act was the result of excusable neglect; but the court may not extend the time for taking any action under Rules 29, 33, 34, 35, and 37, except to the extent and under the conditions stated in them.

(c) Unaffected by Expiration of Term. The period of time provided for the doing of any act or the taking of any proceeding is not affected or limited by the continued existence or expiration of a term of court. The continued existence or expiration of a term of court in no way affects the power of a court to do any act or take any proceeding in any criminal action which has been pending before it.

(d) For Motions; Affidavits. A written motion, other than one which may be heard ex parte, and notice of the motion must be served at least 14 days before the motion may be heard, unless a different period is fixed by rule or order of the court. For cause shown such an order may be made on ex parte application. When a motion is supported by affidavit, the affidavit must be served with the motion; and opposing affidavits may be served not less than 1 day before the hearing unless the court permits them to be served at a later time.

(e) Additional Time After Service by Mail or Commercial Carrier. Whenever a party has the right or is required to do an act within a prescribed period after service of a notice or other paper and the notice or other paper is served by mail or third-party commercial carrier, 3 days must be added to the prescribed period. Service by facsimile transmission is not service by mail or third-party commercial carrier for purposes of this rule.

Rule 45 was amended, effective July 1, 1981; January 1, 1988; January 1, 1995; March 1, 1997; March 1, 1999; March 1, 2007; March 1, 2008; March 1, 2009; March 1, 2012; March 1, 2013; March 1, 2014; March 1, 2017; May 5, 2021.

Rule 45 was revised, effective January 1, 1995, in response to the 1991 federal revision. Significant changes to North Dakota's rule include the following: (1) An action must be filed before a subpoena may issue; (2) A subpoena may compel a non-party to produce evidence independent of any deposition; (3) A subpoena may compel the inspection of premises in the possession of a non-party; and (4) Notice must be printed on a subpoena advising of the right to object when pretrial or prehearing production or inspection is commanded. The scope of discovery under Rule 26 is not intended to be altered by the revision.

Rule 45 was amended, effective March 1, 2008, in response to the 2006 federal revision. Language was added to the rule to clarify that production of electronically stored materials may be demanded by subpoena and to provide guidance in dealing with requests for electronically stored materials.

Rule 45 was amended, effective March 1, 2009, in response to the 2007 amendments to Fed.R.Civ.P. 45. The language and organization of the rule were changed to make the rule more easily understood and to make style and terminology consistent throughout the rules.

Subparagraph (a)(1)(A)(iii) was amended, effective March 1, 2013, to clarify that the notice required by subdivision (f) must be made part of the subpoena when the subpoena seeks only pretrial or prehearing production of documents, electronically stored information, or tangible things or the inspection of premises.

Subparagraph (a)(1)(C) was amended, effective March 1, 2014, to explain that the phrase "electronically stored information" includes reasonably accessible metadata.

Paragraph (a)(2) was amended, effective March 1, 2017, to remove the requirement that a subpoena issued by a clerk have a seal affixed.

Paragraph (a)(3) was amended, effective March 1, 2013, to direct persons to N.D.R.Ct. 5.1 for information about how to proceed with discovery in this state in an action pending in an out-of-state court. N.D.R.Ct. 5.1 outlines procedure for interstate depositions and discovery.

Subdivision (b) was amended, effective March 1, 2007, to eliminate the requirement for parties to serve a separate notice for production when commanding a person to attend a deposition to give testimony and produce documents or things.

Paragraph (b)(2) was amended, effective March 1, 2009, to make it clear that notice must be served on each party in a matter before a subpoena to take testimony or for production is served.

Paragraph (c)(4)(C)was amended, effective May 5, 2021, to correct a cross-reference.

Subdivision (f) was amended, effective March 1, 1999, to allow an objection to a subpoena to be sent via a commercial carrier as an alternative to mail.

SOURCES: Joint Procedure Committee Minutes of April 29. 2021, page ___; September 24-25, 2016, page 26; January 31-February 1, 2013, pages 24-25; September 27, 2012, pages 8-10; January 26-27, 2012, pages 3-7; September 30, 2011, pages 12-15; April 28-29, 2011, page 25; September 23-24, 2010, pages 32-33; April 24-25, 2008, pages 22-25; September 28-29, 2006, pages 25-27; April 27-28, 2006, pages 14-15; January 29-30, 1998, page 20; January 25-26, 1996, page 20;January 27-28, 1994, pages 11-16; April 29-30, 1993, pages 4-8, 18-20; January 28-29, 1993, pages 2-7; May 21-22, 1987, page 3; February 19-20, 1987, pages 3-4; October 30-31, 1980, pages 26-29; November 29-30, 1979, page 12; Fed.R.Civ.P. 45.

STATUTES AFFECTED:

SUPERSEDED: N.D.C.C. § 31-05-22

CROSS REFERENCE: N.D.R.Civ.P. 26 (General Provisions Governing Discovery), N.D.R.Civ.P. 30 (Depositions Upon Oral Examination), and N.D.R.Civ.P. 31 (Depositions of Witnesses Upon Written Questions); N.D.R.Crim.P. 17 (Subpoena); N.D.R.Ev. 510 (Waiver of Privilege by Voluntary Disclosure)); N.D.R.Ct. 5.1(Interstate Depositions and Discovery).

Effective Date Obsolete Date
05/05/2021 View
03/01/2017 05/05/2021 View
03/01/2014 03/01/2017 View
03/01/2013 03/01/2014 View
03/01/2012 03/01/2013 View
03/01/2009 03/01/2012 View
03/01/2008 03/01/2009 View
03/01/2007 03/01/2008 View
03/01/2001 03/01/2007 View
03/01/1999 03/01/2001 View
01/01/1995 03/01/1999 View