Hi there

I have examined witnesses via telelink in the Federal Court. They can send you a court book, so you're looking at the same evidence, they can ask questions with the phone on speaker so everyone can hear your answers, the Judge can ask questions, etc. They might be willing to do that.

But of course, it depends on what they want you there for, what court you're in, what facilities are available, and whether they actually need you there in person.

Give the lawyers a call and discuss it - see if they're happy to subpoena someone else, or if they're happy to examine you over the phone. They might be flexible.

If they are, they may be able to work this out in advance with the other parties (who may want to cross examine you) and the Court (who will need to organise the telephone link up, so it can still be transcribed, etc).

If you're not formally excused, you must comply with the subpoena. [[I've also been involved in proceedings where paramedics were going to be on standby for one witness who had requested, and been refused permission to not attend due to medical reasons, and as it wasn't consented to, paramedics had to be organised in case anything went wrong ... luckily, the matter settled and the examination became moot...]]

Good luck.