Federal Fact Witnesses

If you have been subpoenaed to testify on behalf of the federal government and you are not a federal government employee, you are entitled to certain fees for coming to court. These are the types of fees that federal fact witnesses are entitled to:

• $40.00 for each day that you have to be available to testify, plus travel days.

• Reimbursement for round-trip mileage to and from the courthouse at the current government mileage reimbursement rate if you drove your privately-owned vehicle.

• Reimbursement for parking, taxis, and excess baggage fees. All of these claims must be supported by receipts. If you choose to mail your receipts to the USAO at a later time, please advise the USAO staff member assisting you that you will do so in order for us to include these amounts in your reimbursement.

• A daily meal allowance based on the current government meal allowance rate if you are away from home overnight. You are not required to provide receipts for your meals.

To receive these entitlements, you are required to complete a form referred to as an OBD-3, Fact Witness Voucher. Our Victim-Witness staff will assist you in completing the form. If you have not completed your form prior to being dismissed from court, please contact them at the numbers set out earlier.

If you are away from home overnight, we will make travel (air, train, or bus fare) and lodging arrangements for you. If you need to make changes in these arrangements, we must make the changes for you.