Summons (redirected from Citation (police))

summons: see procedure.

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summons

In law, written notification that one is required to appear in court. In civil (noncriminal) cases, it notifies a defendant that he or she must appear and defend (e.g., by filing an answer) within a specified time or a default judgment will be rendered for the plaintiff. The summons is also used in cases involving minor criminal offenses (e.g., traffic violations) to call defendants to appear and answer to charges against them. See also subpoena.

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summons

1. 

a. an official order requiring a person to attend court, either to answer a charge or to give evidence

b. the writ making such an order

2. a call or command given to the members of an assembly to convene a meeting

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Summons 

in the USSR, an official written order to appear in court. A telegram or telephone message is equivalent to a legal summons. The summons states who is being called and in what capacity, where and before whom the person must appear, and the time of the appearance. It also indicates the consequences of failure to appear, for example, a witness may be forced to appear or a defendant’s measure of restraint may be made more severe.

The summons is also used to order citizens to appear before an investigator or person conducting an inquiry.