Summon vs. Warrant: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on November 18, 2023
A summon orders a person to appear in court, while a warrant authorizes law enforcement to arrest, search, or perform some specific action.
Key Differences
A summon and a warrant are both legal instruments, but they serve different functions in the justice system. A summon is typically a document that directs an individual to appear in court at a specified time and place. Conversely, a warrant provides the authority for a specific action, like an arrest or a search.
While both the summon and the warrant originate from the judicial system, their implications vary. A summon, for instance, does not imply guilt or criminal activity. It's merely a call for someone to attend a court proceeding. On the other hand, a warrant usually arises from probable cause, suggesting that an individual has committed a crime or that evidence of a crime may be found at a certain location.
The process of issuance is another distinguishing factor between a summon and a warrant. A summon can be issued for various reasons, such as for being a witness or for civil proceedings. A warrant, however, requires a more stringent process. It's generally issued when law enforcement provides evidence to a judge, indicating the necessity of an action like an arrest or a search.
The consequences of ignoring these legal instruments differ as well. Ignoring a summon could lead to contempt of court or other penalties. Disregarding a warrant, especially an arrest warrant, can result in immediate arrest or more severe legal repercussions.
In essence, while both a summon and a warrant carry legal weight, they operate in different spheres of the justice system. A summon concerns attendance in court, whereas a warrant deals with actions like arrests, searches, or seizures based on probable cause.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Directs an individual to appear in court
Authorizes an action like arrest or search
Implication
No assumption of guilt
Arises from probable cause
Issuance
Can be for various reasons including witnessing
Requires evidence presented to a judge
Consequence of Ignoring
Possible contempt of court
Immediate arrest or more severe legal repercussions
Association
Attendance in court
Actions like arrests, searches, or seizures
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Summon and Warrant Definitions
Summon
An authoritative command or signal to be present.
The principal sent a summon for the student to attend a meeting.
Warrant
A legal document authorizing law enforcement to take a specific action.
The police had a warrant to search the suspect's home.
Summon
A request for someone to join a particular place or event.
The king sent out a summon for all lords to attend the council.
Warrant
Justification for an action, belief, or feeling.
There was no warrant for such aggressive behavior.
Summon
To call together; convene
Summon a meeting of officials.
Warrant
(Law) A judicial writ authorizing the search or seizure of property, arrest of a person, or the execution of a legal judgment.
Summon
To request to appear; send for
Summon a doctor to help an injured man.
Warrant
A voucher authorizing payment or receipt of money.
Summon
To order to take a specified action; bid
Summon the captain to surrender.
Warrant
An option to buy stock at a specified price from an issuing company.
Summon
To bring to mind or remember. Often used with up
We tried to summon up an image of our childhood friend.
Warrant
Justification for an action or a belief; grounds
"The difficulty of predicting the future is no warrant to ignore it" (Brian Hayes).
Summon
To cause one to think of (something); evoke. Often used with up:"Badly cured hippie fur ... maté, and paraffin heating oil are the scents that summon up my remembrance of the late sixties" (Judith Thurman).
Warrant
Something that provides assurance or confirmation; a guarantee or proof
"The kind of uncertainties and ambiguities ... which may damage [his] essays ... are often a warrant of authenticity in [his] fiction" (John Edward Hardy).
Summon
To bring into existence or readiness. Often used with up:"He summoned up a smile, though it seemed to take all his strength" (Colin Turnbull).
Warrant
Authorization or certification; sanction, as given by a superior.
Summon
(transitive) To call people together; to convene.
Warrant
A warrant officer.
Summon
(transitive) To ask someone to come; to send for.
Warrant
A certificate of appointment given to a warrant officer.
Summon
To order (goods) and have delivered
Warrant
To provide adequate grounds for; justify or require
What could he have done that would warrant such a punishment?.
Summon
(transitive) To rouse oneself to exert a skill.
Warrant
To guarantee (a product).
Summon
To call a resource by magic.
Warrant
To guarantee (a purchaser) indemnification against damage or loss.
Summon
To summons; convene.
Warrant
(Law) To guarantee clear title to (real property).
Summon
To impose such a fine or penalty, or to issue a notice thereof.
The police summoned the driver for speeding.
They kena summoned for littering.
Warrant
Authorization or certification; a sanction, as given by a superior.
Summon
(video games) A creature magically summoned to do the summoner's bidding.
Warrant
(countable) Something that provides assurance or confirmation; a guarantee or proof.
A warrant of authenticity; a warrant for success
Summon
Call, command, order en
Warrant
(countable) An order that serves as authorization; especially a voucher authorizing payment or receipt of money.
Summon
A fine; a fee or monetary penalty incurred for breaking the law; usually for a minor offence such as a traffic violation.
You better pay off the parking summon tomorrow before you kena interest on it.
Warrant
An option, usually issued together with another security and with a term at issue greater than a year, to buy other securities of the issuer.
Summon
A notice of an infringement of the law, usually incurring such a penalty; a citation or ticket.
Warrant
A judicial writ authorizing an officer to make a search, seizure, or arrest, or to execute a judgment.
An arrest warrant issued by the court
Summon
To call, bid, or cite; to notify to come to appear; - often with up.
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.
Trumpets summon him to war.
Warrant
(countable) A certificate of appointment given to a warrant officer.
Summon
To give notice to, or command to appear, as in court; to cite by authority; as, to summon witnesses.
Warrant
A document certifying that a motor vehicle meets certain standards of mechanical soundness and safety; a warrant of fitness.
Summon
To call upon to surrender, as a fort.
Warrant
A defender, a protector.
Summon
Call in an official matter, such as to attend court
Warrant
Underclay in a coal mine.
Warren earth
Summon
Ask to come;
Summon a lawyer
Warrant
To protect, keep safe (from danger).
Summon
Gather or bring together;
Muster the courage to do something
She rallied her intellect
Summon all your courage
Warrant
To give (someone) an assurance or guarantee (of something); also, with a double object: to guarantee (someone something).
Summon
Make ready for action or use;
Marshal resources
Warrant
(transitive) To guarantee (something) to be (of a specified quality, value, etc.).
Summon
An official order to appear in court.
She received a summon to testify as a witness in the trial.
Warrant
(transitive) To guarantee as being true; (colloquially) to believe strongly.
That tree is going to fall, I’ll warrant.
Summon
A call or citation by authority to appear before a court or a judicial officer.
The defendant ignored the summon and faced legal consequences.
Warrant
(transitive) To authorize; to give (someone) sanction or warrant (to do something).
I am warranted to search these premises fully.
Summon
A document issued by a court to ensure the attendance of a witness.
The lawyer arranged for a summon to ensure the key witness's presence.
Warrant
(transitive) To justify; to give grounds for.
Circumstances arose that warranted the use of lethal force.
Warrant
That which warrants or authorizes; a commission giving authority, or justifying the doing of anything; an act, instrument, or obligation, by which one person authorizes another to do something which he has not otherwise a right to do; an act or instrument investing one with a right or authority, and thus securing him from loss or damage; commission; authority.
Warrant
A writing which authorizes a person to receive money or other thing.
Warrant
That which vouches or insures for anything; guaranty; security.
I give thee warrant of thy place.
His worth is warrant for his welcome hither.
Warrant
A precept issued by a magistrate authorizing an officer to make an arrest, a seizure, or a search, or do other acts incident to the administration of justice.
Warrant
That which attests or proves; a voucher.
Warrant
An official certificate of appointment issued to an officer of lower rank than a commissioned officer. See Warrant officer, below.
Warrant
Right; legality; allowance.
Warrant
To make secure; to give assurance against harm; to guarantee safety to; to give authority or power to do, or forbear to do, anything by which the person authorized is secured, or saved harmless, from any loss or damage by his action.
That show I first my body to warrant.
I'll warrant him from drowning.
In a placeLess warranted than this, or less secure,I can not be.
Warrant
To support by authority or proof; to justify; to maintain; to sanction; as, reason warrants it.
True fortitude is seen in great exploits,That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides.
How little while it is since he went forth out of his study, - chewing a Hebrew text of Scripture in his mouth, I warrant.
Warrant
To give a warrant or warranty to; to assure as if by giving a warrant to.
[My neck is] as smooth as silk, I warrant ye.
Warrant
To secure to, as a grantee, an estate granted; to assure.
Warrant
A writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts
Warrant
A type of security issued by a corporation (usually together with a bond or preferred stock) that gives the holder the right to purchase a certain amount of common stock at a stated price;
As a sweetener they offered warrants along with the fixed-income securities
Warrant
Formal and explicit approval;
A Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement
Warrant
A written assurance that some product or service will be provided or will meet certain specifications
Warrant
Show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for;
The emergency does not warrant all of us buying guns
The end justifies the means
Warrant
Stand behind and guarantee the quality, accuracy, or condition of;
The dealer warrants all the cars he sells
I warrant this information
Warrant
A judicial authorization for the arrest or search of a person or location.
The detective obtained a warrant after presenting evidence to the judge.
Warrant
A document ensuring the payment or fulfillment of an obligation.
The bond came with a warrant that guaranteed interest.
Warrant
A voucher of authenticity or quality.
The product came with a warrant of its durability.
FAQs
What's the primary purpose of a summon?
A summon primarily orders an individual to appear in court.
What actions can a warrant authorize?
A warrant can authorize arrests, searches, or specific actions by law enforcement.
Can a warrant be issued without evidence?
Generally, a warrant requires evidence or probable cause for issuance.
Can ignoring a warrant lead to immediate consequences?
Yes, especially if it's an arrest warrant.
Is a summon only related to criminal cases?
No, summons can be issued for both criminal and civil cases.
Who can request a warrant?
Law enforcement officers usually request warrants based on evidence.
What's needed for a search warrant to be issued?
Probable cause that evidence of a crime will be found in the location.
Do you get arrested when you receive a summon?
No, a summon just requires you to appear in court; it doesn't entail arrest.
Can a summon be sent for witnessing purposes?
Yes, witnesses can be ordered to attend court via a summon.
Can a citizen issue a summon?
Typically, a summon is issued by a court or judicial authority.
What happens if you ignore an arrest warrant?
Ignoring an arrest warrant can result in immediate arrest.
Is a summon legally binding?
Yes, ignoring it can lead to legal consequences.
Does a summon imply guilt?
No, a summon is just an order to appear and doesn't imply guilt.
Can you challenge a summon?
You can respond or raise defenses, but ignoring it isn't advised.
Are summons and subpoenas the same?
They're similar, but a subpoena is often more specific, like demanding documents or testifying.
Can a judge refuse to issue a warrant?
Yes, if there's insufficient evidence or lack of probable cause.
Can a summon be delivered electronically?
It depends on jurisdiction, but some places allow electronic delivery.
Are there different types of warrants?
Yes, including arrest, search, and bench warrants.
Is a warrant always public record?
Typically, but some may be sealed temporarily for investigative reasons.
What does a bench warrant do?
It orders the immediate arrest of an individual, often for court-related reasons.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
