Judicial Comity Law and Legal Definition
Judicial comity is the respect shown by a court of one state to a court of another state. It is a legal principle, used commonly in international law. Generally, through judicial comity, a court of one state shows reciprocity by giving effect to another court’s laws and judicial decisions. Judicial comity also authenticates reasonable and good faith interpretations of existing precedents made by state courts. This helps in stimulating the states’ interest in the finality of criminal convictions, and fosters comity between federal and state courts. Federal-state judicial comity is ensured when a federal court shows high esteem or deference to state court decisions.[Newland v. Hall, 527 F.3d 1162 (11th Cir. Ga. 2008)]
