A subpoena is a legal document issued by an attorney, or by the clerk of a court at
an attorney’s request, used to formally request information and/or testimony. Subpoenas
issued to an SSA FO or DDS usually request production of records at a deposition in
an attorney’s office or in court, and, in some cases, testimony about those records.
Subpoenas may also request employee testimony regarding general SSA program matters
or knowledge or observation of a particular number holder.
A court order is a formal legal document signed by a judge used to order production
of documents and/or testimony. FOs and DDSs receive a small number of court orders
compared with subpoenas.