Athens City Code

When a complaint of an alleged ordinance violation is made to the city judge, the judge may, in his discretion, in lieu of issuing an arrest warrant, issue a summons, ordering the alleged offender to personally appear before the city court at a time specified therein to answer to the charges against him. The summons shall contain a brief description of the offense charged but need not set out verbatim the provisions of the ordinance alleged to have been violated. Upon failure of any person to appear before the city court as commanded in a summons lawfully served on him, the cause may be proceeded with ex parte, and the judgment of the court shall be valid and binding subject to the defendant's right of appeal.

(Code 1972, § 1-703; Code 1995, § 3-301)

The city judge may subpoena as witnesses all persons whose testimony he believes will be relevant and material to matters coming before his court. It is unlawful for any person lawfully served with such a subpoena to fail or neglect to comply therewith.

(Code 1972, § 1-704; Code 1995, § 3-302)