Rogatory Letters

A commission from one judge to another judge requesting the latter to examine a witness in his or her court, with the testimony to be provided to the first judge.

Rogatory letters can be sent to a court in a sister state or to a court or judge in a foreign country (usually they are sent through diplomatic channels). Granting the request is a matter of comity—courtesy and respect—between courts.

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rogatory letters n. a written request by a judge to a judge in another state asking that a witness in the other state have his/her testimony taken in the other state's court for use in the local court case. (See: deposition, testimony, witness)