Criminal Rules
Rule 19.
Rule 19. Warrant or
Summons Upon Indictment; Appearance Before District Court
19.01 IssuanceOn the filing of an indictment, the court must issue a warrant for the arrest of each defendant named in the indictment, except that the court may issue a summons instead of a warrant when the prosecutor requests or the court directs, or if the defendant is a corporation.The court may order an indicted defendant already in custody to be brought before the court at a specified date and time.More than one warrant or summons may be issued for the same defendant. If a defendant, other than a corporation, fails to appear in response to a summons, a warrant must issue.
19.02 FormSubd. 1.Warrant.The warrant must:(a) be signed by a judge;
(b) contain the defendant’s name or, if unknown, any name or description by which the defendant can be identified with reasonable certainty;
(c) describe the offense charged; and(d) command the defendant’s arrest and appearance in court.The amount of bail and other conditions of release may be set by the court and stated in the warrant.Subd. 2.Summons.The summons must be signed by the court and must summon the defendant to appear before the court at a specified time and place to answer to the indictment. A copy of the indictment must be attached to the summons.
19.03 Service of the IndictmentSubd. 1.By Whom.Any officer authorized by law may execute the warrant, and if authorized may also serve the summons. The court administrator may serve the summons in any manner authorized by subdivision 3 of this rule.Subd. 2.Territorial Limits.The warrant may be executed or the summons served any place in the state, except where prohibited by law.Subd. 3.Manner.The warrant must be executed or the summons served as specified in Rule 3.03, subd. 3.Subd. 4.Certification.The execution of a warrant or the service of a summons must be certified as specified in Rule 3.03, subd. 4.Subd. 5.Unexecuted Warrants.At the prosecutor’s request made during the pendency of the indictment, a warrant returned unexecuted or a summons returned unserved, or a duplicate of either, may be delivered to any authorized officer or person for execution or service.
(Amended effective July 1, 2015.)