N.D. Cent. Code § 31-01-19: Witness for indigent defendants subpoenaed and paid by city, county, or state under court order in criminal or municipal court action

If it appears to the court before which a criminal action or municipal ordinance violation is about to be tried that the defendant is unable to pay the witnesses to appear on the defendant's behalf, such court shall make an order that such witnesses as may be deemed reasonable, naming them, be subpoenaed to attend at such trial at the expense of the city, the county, or the state, whichever is liable to pay the costs of the prosecution of such action, and such witnesses must be paid accordingly.