Obama is the defendant in this case, you should do your own homework. The plaintiffs are arguing that he shouldn't be allowed on the Georgia ballot and his lawyers are trying to stop this. Who is the defendant if not Obama and his lawyers? Obama was subpoenaed to show documentation and testimony that proves he is eligible for the Georgia ballot.
To the bold point. How does a judge not have authority to issue and/or revoke a subpoena?
Glad you asked. Let me demonstrate and I hope you will actually read and comprehend and not just react. The challenge is against the Secretary of State, not Obama directly. It's basically a challenge that the SoS did not follow the law in including Obama on the ballot.
The matter is before the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH).
Georgia Code, Title 50, Chapter 13, Article 2 clarifies their authority as such.
§ 50-13-40. Office created; chief state administrative law judge
(a) There is created within the executive branch of state government the Office of State Administrative Hearings. The office shall be independent of state administrative agencies and shall be responsible for impartial administration of administrative hearings in accordance with this article. The office shall be assigned for administrative purposes only, as that term is defined in Code Section 50-4-3, to the Department of Administrative Services.
See, the authority is strictly limited to an office or agency of the executive branch. In this case the Secretary of State.
Now, Georgia Code Title 50, Chapter 13, Article 1 outlays general provisions. Specifically about subpoenas it states:
(7) Subpoenas shall be issued without discrimination between public and private parties. When a subpoena is disobeyed, any party may apply to the superior court of the county where the contested case is being heard for an order requiring obedience. Failure to comply with such order shall be cause for punishment as for contempt of court. The costs of securing the attendance of witnesses, including fees and mileage, shall be computed and assessed in the same manner as prescribed by law in civil cases in the superior court;
Subpoenas are issued between parties, not by the OHAS. If someone doesn't obey a subpoena, any party can contest it to the superior court to have it ordered that they should comply. In this case the judge declined to quash the subpoena. That is all. Nothing has been contested to the superior court at this point. The superior court has issued no orders.
Now, the judge in this case will not issue a ruling. He will forward a recommendation which will either be implemented or rejected within 30 days by a reviewing agency. Basically he will issue findings of fact, conclusions of law and a recommended disposition of the case. The SoS is not compelled to implement anything forwarded to him.
Edit: as I said earlier, it was Orly Taitz who sent the subpoena to Obama to testify, on behalf of Farrara, her client who is challenging the SoS on Obama's eligibility.