Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110

§7108 Investigations and Power to Subpoena

Title 7 › CHAPTER 99 — SHEEP PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION › § 7108

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may investigate as needed to run this chapter or to find out if someone covered by it has broken or is about to break its rules. To do this, the Secretary can make people swear oaths, issue subpoenas, force witnesses to attend, collect testimony, and require relevant records from anywhere in the United States. If someone refuses a subpoena, the Secretary can ask a federal court where the investigation is happening or where the person lives or does business to order them to appear or hand over records. Not following a court order can be punished as contempt. Legal papers can be served where the person lives, works, or is found.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §7108

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Investigations

The Secretary may make such investigations as the Secretary considers necessary—

(1)for the effective administration of this chapter; or

(2)to determine whether any person subject to this chapter has engaged, or is about to engage, in any action that constitutes or will constitute a violation of this chapter, or of any order or regulation issued under this chapter.

(b)Subpoenas, oaths, and affirmations

For the purpose of any investigation under subsection (a), the Secretary may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel the attendance of witnesses, take evidence, and require the production of any records that are relevant to the inquiry. The attendance of witnesses and the production of any such records may be required from any place in the United States.

(c)Aid of courts

In the case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any person, the Secretary may invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which the investigation or proceeding is carried on, or where the person resides or carries on business, in order to require the attendance and testimony of the person or the production of records. The court may issue an order requiring the person to appear before the Secretary to produce records or to give testimony regarding the matter under investigation.

(d)Contempt

Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of the court.

(e)Process

Process in any case under this section may be served in the judicial district in which the person resides or carries on business or wherever the person may be found.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 7108

Title 7, Agriculture

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110