Editing Summons (section)

==Judicial summons==
[[File:Summons for Luther to appear at the Diet of Worms.jpg|thumb|Summons for [[Martin Luther]] to appear at the 1521 [[Diet of Worms]], signed by [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]]. The text on the left was on the reverse side.]]
A judicial summons is served on a person involved in a legal proceeding. Legal action may be in progress against the person, or the person's presence as witness may be required.<ref>[http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/criminal/docs/crim-pr-form-part28-witness-summons-application-form-aug-2011.pdf Application for a witness summons under criminal law of England and Wales]</ref> In the former case, the summons will typically announce to the person to whom it is directed that a legal proceeding has been started against that person, and that a case has been initiated in the issuing court. In some jurisdictions, it may be drafted in [[legal English]] difficult for the [[layman]] to understand, while several U.S. states expressly require summonses to be drafted in [[plain English]] and that they must start with this phrase: "Notice! You have been sued."{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}}

The summons announces a date by which the person or persons summoned must either appear in court, or respond in writing to the court or the opposing party or parties. The summons is the descendant of the [[writ]] of the [[common law]]. It replaces the former procedure in common-law countries by which the plaintiff actually had to ask the [[sheriff]] to arrest the defendant in order for the court to obtain [[personal jurisdiction]] in both criminal and civil actions.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

In some jurisdictions, while the summons still exists, it has been replaced with an [[order to show cause]] for many lawsuits.{{cn|date=May 2025}}