Judicial Assistance

Aid offered by the judicial tribunals of one state to the judicial tribunals of a second state.

Judicial assistance may consist of the enforcement of a judgment rendered by a court of another state or other actions to assist current judicial proceedings taking place in the state requesting the cooperation of the foreign court. A letter rogatory, the formal term for such a request, asks a foreign court to take some judicial action, such as issue a summons, compel production of documents, or take evidence. Treaties may be concluded between countries to establish regular methods of transmitting these requests and to assure reciprocal treatment in furnishing assistance.