A bill for an act relating to defense subpoenas in criminal cases, and providing penalties.

SF 571 requires criminal defendants to seek court approval before obtaining subpoenas for documents or evidence, rather than issuing them directly. To get approval, defendants must prove a compelling need for evidence that is exculpatory (could prove innocence), material, necessary, and admissible at trial, while avoiding private information of crime victims or others. The bill mandates that subpoenaed documents must be shared with prosecutors within five business days, prohibits using noncompliant evidence in court, and requires courts to appoint attorneys for indigent individuals served with subpoenas. It also establishes penalties for attorneys who violate these rules and bars postconviction claims based on improperly obtained subpoena evidence.