[diminoten]

Hysteria aside, what happens when a court subpoena demands someone hand over something they don't have? Does the person just say, "I don't have it." and that's that? What if they lie about not having it?

[quackerhacker]

The prosecutor's would have to...

1. prove they have the evidence.

or

2. prove they destroyed or concealed it.

Greatest quote I've ever heard: "it's not what they know, it's what they can prove in court"

[sczkid]

Law Abiding Citizen is a pretty thought-provoking (and pessimistic) take on the US justice system.

[diminoten]

...this is sarcastic, yes?

[dmix]

Contempt of court faces up to 5yrs in jail.

[diminoten]

A judge can and will hold someone in contempt of court for not producing documents they haven't even been shown to possess?

That doesn't sound right...

[ye]

There's no jail limit for contempt of court.

14 years: http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2009/07/14/man-jailed-on-civil-cont...

7 years: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_A._Armstrong

[dmix]

Ah, in Canada it's 5 years. "Punishment can range from the person being imprisoned for a period of less than five years or until the person complies with the order or fine."