Conformity Act Law and Legal Definition
Conformity Act is a 1872 federal statute which provides that the practice and procedure in federal district courts (other than in equity and admiralty matters) must conform to the practice and procedure used by the state courts for like cases. The Act provided that in common-law causes in the circuit and district courts of the United States, the plaintiff shall be entitled to similar remedies, by attachment or other process against the property of the defendant, which are now provided for by the laws of the State in which such court is held, applicable to the court of such State. The circuit or district courts may, from time to time, by general rules, adopt such State laws as may be in force in the State in relation to attachments and other process and the party recovering judgment in such cause shall be entitled to similar remedies upon the same, by execution or otherwise, to reach the property of the judgment debtor, as are provided by the laws of the State within which said circuit or district courts shall be held in like causes, or which shall be adopted by rules as aforesaid. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure which became effective in 1938 superseded the Conformity Act.