Under what conditions may the board squash or modify a subpoena?

The board has the authority to squash or modify a subpoena primarily when it is deemed unreasonable or oppressive. This condition ensures that individuals are not subjected to undue hardship or inconvenience in complying with a subpoena. Courts and boards generally prioritize balancing the need for information in legal proceedings with the rights and burdens placed on witnesses or parties called to provide evidence.

If a subpoena places an excessive burden on the recipient or seeks irrelevant information, it can be challenged on the grounds of being unreasonable or oppressive. This protects individuals from being forced to comply with demands that are excessive in scope, frequency, or duration, which could disrupt their personal or professional lives.

In contrast, the other options do not inherently provide grounds for modifying or squashing a subpoena. Requests for public information might still be valid and enforceable, emails as a means of delivering information do not affect the legitimacy of a subpoena, and the unavailability of a witness usually requires the party issuing the subpoena to find an alternative means to produce that evidence rather than simple modification or quashing.