1. The district court in and for the county in which any hearing may be held shall have the power to compel the attendance of witnesses, the giving of testimony and the production of books and papers as required by any subpoena issued by the Commission.

2. In case of the refusal of any witness to attend or testify or produce any papers required by such subpoena the Commission may report to the district court in and for the county in which the hearing is pending by petition, setting forth:

(a) That due notice has been given of the time and place of attendance of the witness or the production of the books and papers;

(b) That the witness has been subpoenaed in the manner prescribed in this chapter; and

(c) That the witness has failed and refused to attend or produce the papers required by subpoena before the Commission in the cause or proceeding named in the subpoena, or has refused to answer questions propounded to him or her in the course of such hearing,

and asking an order of the court compelling the witness to attend and testify or produce the books or papers before the Commission.

3. The court, upon petition of the Commission, shall enter an order directing the witness to appear before the court at a time and place to be fixed by the court in such order, the time to be not more than 10 days from the date of the order, and then and there show cause why the witness has not attended or testified or produced the books or papers before the Commission. A certified copy of the order shall be served upon the witness. If it shall appear to the court that the subpoena was regularly issued by the Commission, the court shall thereupon enter an order that the witness appear before the Commission at the time and place fixed in the order and testify or produce the required books or papers, and upon failure to obey the order the witness shall be dealt with as for contempt of court.

[Part 22:150:1947; 1943 NCL § 6396.22]