/subpoena-triage

1. Read the subpoena from provided path.
2. Classify (third-party-docs / third-party-depo / party / CID / grand-jury).
3. If grand jury → stop, escalate per ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/CLAUDE.md. Otherwise continue.
4. Load ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/matters/_log.yaml for cross-check. Load ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/CLAUDE.md → landscape, privilege conventions, escalation norms.
5. Follow the workflow and reference below.
6. Extract key fields, analyze scope/burden/privilege, produce objections framework + compliance plan + deadline calendar.
7. Write ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/inbound/[slug]/triage.md. Copy or link subpoena to ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/inbound/[slug]/incoming.[ext].
8. Hand off: /legal-hold --issue if hold not in place; /matter-intake if materiality warrants; /matter-briefing [slug] if party subpoena in existing matter.

Subpoena Triage

Purpose

Subpoenas arrive with deadlines. The failure modes: missing the deadline, over-producing (privilege waiver, burden we should have objected to), under-producing (contempt exposure), or missing a motion-to-quash window. This skill classifies, analyzes, and produces a compliance plan with objections framework.

Jurisdiction assumption

The rule cited in Step 0 is the operative one for this subpoena in this forum. Subpoena practice varies materially: federal (FRCP 45) vs. state equivalents, state-to-state variants, local rules, court-specific standing orders, and the subpoena type (trial, deposition, document production) all change objection deadlines, place-of-compliance limits, privilege-log requirements, and cost-shifting. Every rule output here is a starting-point heuristic — confirm currency and the local variant before asserting in writing.

Side context

This skill is inherently defensive — a subpoena has been served on the recipient and the posture is respond/object/comply. Read ## Side in the practice profile. If the user's default side is plaintiff, note that receiving a subpoena is common for plaintiffs too (witness subpoenas, third-party requests directed at the plaintiff's own records) but the framing here is always "subpoena served on us, how do we respond." If the user is defense (typical), the framing aligns with the default. If the matter has a different posture than the default (e.g., defense practitioner receiving a subpoena in a matter where they're pro se for a family member), prompt the user to confirm posture before proceeding.

Load context

• The subpoena document (user provides path or drops it in-session)
• ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/matters/_log.yaml — for related matter lookup and legal hold status
• ~/.claude/plugins/config/claude-for-legal/litigation-legal/CLAUDE.md → landscape (regulators we deal with), house privilege conventions, escalation norms

Workflow

Step 0: Research the applicable rule

Before analyzing this subpoena, research the applicable rule of civil procedure for the forum (FRCP 45 for federal, the state equivalent otherwise) and the subpoena type (trial, deposition, document production). Identify: place-of-compliance limits, objection deadlines (these often run from the EARLIER of the compliance date or a fixed number of days after service), privilege-log requirements, and who bears costs. Cite with pinpoint references. Verify currency — rules and local variants change. Flag grand-jury subpoenas for immediate criminal-counsel escalation.

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