Also known as: Uniform Acts · ULA · Uniform Laws
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A model statute drafted for enactment by multiple states to achieve consistent legal rules on a given subject across jurisdictions.
Alice Ames commences arbitration against a supplier in State A after a contract dispute. State A has enacted the Uniform Arbitration Act. The court stays litigation and compels arbitration under the same standards that would apply in State B, which enacted identical language. This produces consistent enforcement of the arbitration agreement across both jurisdictions.
Usha Upton resides in another state and refuses to appear at a criminal trial. Prosecutors invoke the uniform act to obtain a court order from her home state directing her attendance. The order includes travel compensation and enforces her presence at the proceeding. The trial moves forward with her testimony because the act supplies the mechanism for securing the witness.
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The provision directs courts to interpret the act in light of the goal of consistent application among enacting states. This reduces the risk that different jurisdictions will reach conflicting results on the same language.
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The act allows one state to obtain a court order from another state compelling a witness to appear and testify. It requires payment of travel costs and compensation, enabling the prosecution to meet its burden to secure the witness without violating confrontation requirements.
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Most uniform acts include nearly identical language directing courts to promote uniformity when construing the statute. Slight variations appear in wording but the directive remains consistent across the acts.
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…77. Once located, however, it is extremely unlikely that Anita could have resisted the State's efforts to secure her return. The Uniform Act to Secure the Attendance of Witnesses from Without a State in Criminal Proceedings enables prosecuting authorities in one State to obtain an order from a court in another State compelling…