In all civil cases where the case is not decided at the first session, witnesses who have been served with subpoenas must not again be summoned by the clerk for further attendance, unless otherwise directed by the party originally summoning them, but such witnesses are bound to attend from session to session until the case is disposed of. If a judgment is entered in the case which is reversed on appeal, new subpoenas must be issued when the case is reset for trial; provided, however, that in the circuit court of counties having a population of 400,000 or more, according to the last or any subsequent federal census, the clerk of the said court must subpoena witnesses to attend court at each regular setting of a case after said witnesses have once been ordered summoned by the party, unless otherwise directed by said party originally summoning them.
Ala. Code § 12-21-184 (1975)