{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-labor-and-employment-9-717","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 9–717","heading":"","body":"(a) If, without reasonable cause, a witness refuses to produce a document or to testify in accordance with an order of the Commission, the Commission may and, on request of a party to the proceeding, shall apply to a circuit court for an order to show cause.\n(b) On proof by affidavit that a witness has refused to produce a document or testify in accordance with an order of the Commission, the circuit court shall pass an order, returnable within 2 to 5 days, that directs the witness to show cause why the witness should not be imprisoned.\n(c) (1) On return of the order, the circuit court shall conduct a hearing to determine if the witness, without reasonable cause or legal excuse, refused to testify or provide a document in accordance with an order of the Commission.\n(2) The circuit court shall:\n(i) examine the witness under oath; and\n(ii) give the witness an opportunity to be heard.\n(3) If the circuit court finds that the witness, without reasonable cause or legal excuse, refused to produce a document or testify in accordance with an order of the Commission, the circuit court may have the witness immediately imprisoned until the witness:\n(i) produces the document or testifies; or\n(ii) is discharged in accordance with law.","path":["Article - Labor and Employment"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gle\u0026section=9-717","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:59:38Z","sha256":"3769635ab459fb61c6085ca7404d60a6b858dc86fe68bc75f8229f6fdd10eb81","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-labor-and-employment-9-716","next":"us-md/md.-code-labor-and-employment-9-718"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}