A witness subpoena must be served not less than how many hours prior to the hearing?

The correct answer is 48 hours, as the requirement for serving a witness subpoena in Georgia is designed to ensure that witnesses have a reasonable amount of time to prepare and appear for the hearing. This timeframe mitigates the potential for confusion or last-minute adjustments to schedules, which can disrupt court proceedings and affect the integrity of the evidence presented. Serving a subpoena with at least 48 hours' notice allows the witness to receive the legal request in a timely manner, thereby facilitating a more organized and efficient legal process. This notice period is established to balance the needs of legal proceedings with the rights and responsibilities of witnesses.