The commission, board or, with the consent of the commission, any party to any proceeding before the commission, may cause depositions of witnesses residing within or without the state to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for depositions in civil actions in circuit courts, such depositions to be taken on a commission to be issued by the executive officer of the commission or by the executive director of the board and made returnable to either the commission or the board.
Ala. Code § 34-24-365 (1975)