{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "cpl", "section": "680.70", "citation": "CPL § 680.70", "heading": "Examination of witnesses on commission; the examination", "text": ["§ 680.70  Examination of witnesses on commission; the examination.", "The examination on the commission must be conducted as follows:", "1.  Each witness must testify under oath, and the examination must be recorded and transcribed.", "2.  Each witness must first be asked all the questions contained in the interrogatories submitted by the party requesting his examination. He must then be asked all the questions contained in the cross-interrogatories, if any, submitted by the other party.", "3.  The defendant has a right to be represented by counsel at the examination, and the district attorney also has a right to be present, but both such rights may be waived.  Upon the conclusion of the questioning of a witness upon the written interrogatories, he may be further examined by the attorney or representative of the party who requested his examination, and may then be cross-examined by the attorney or representative of the adverse party.  Each such attorney or representative may register objections to the authority or qualifications of the commissioner, to the manner in which the examination is conducted, and to the admissibility of evidence, and all such objections must be recorded and transcribed.", "4.  Documentary or other physical evidence may be produced and submitted by a witness.  Such evidence must be subscribed or otherwise identified by the witness, and certified by a commissioner and annexed to the transcript of the examination as a part of the record.", "5.  After the examination is transcribed, the commissioner or commissioners must subscribe and certify the transcript as an accurate record of the proceedings, and must then remit such transcript and all other pertinent instruments, documents and evidence to the court which issued the commission, in accordance with the directions thereof."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/680.70", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "The commissioner conducts and records the out-of-state examination under oath and returns the certified record to the issuing court.\n\n- **(1)–(2)** Each witness testifies under oath; the examination is recorded and transcribed, with direct interrogatories asked before cross-interrogatories. ★\n- **(3)** Defense counsel and the district attorney may attend or waive attendance. After written questions, the requesting side may examine further and the opponent may cross-examine; objections to the commissioner, procedure, or evidence must be recorded.\n- **(4)** The witness may produce identified physical evidence, which a commissioner certifies and attaches to the transcript.\n- **(5)** The commissioners must sign and certify the transcript as accurate and return it with all related documents and evidence.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/cpl/680.70", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}