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A Brief Discussion on the Principle of International Comity in Recognition and Enforcement Foreign Judgemnt in U.S. Courts

Author(s)

Wen Shu*

Affiliation(s)

Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China *Corresponding Author.

Abstract

The principle of international comity is the fundamental basis for U.S. courts to recognize and enforce foreign judgments. However, some scholars persist regarding the efficacy of comity, given its inherently vague and flexible nature. This paper clarifies the role of the comity in U.S. recognition practice courts in recognizing and enforcing foreign judgment and defends its ongoing necessity. The analysis shows that modern U.S. practice has considerably expanded the community beyond traditional private international law notions for resolving the choice of law issues. Comity doctrine in American law provides the ground for recognizing foreign judgments. Critically, comity is discretionary, neither as a legal obligation nor mere courtesy. This empowers U.S. courts to recognize foreign judgments absent binding international law, while retaining prudence to deny decrees that would harm US interest. Since Hiton v. Guyot, the courts has adopted the principle of international comity as the basis for recognizing and enforcing foreignn judgments.

Keywords

Principle of International Comity; Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments; Conflict of Laws; Public Strategy

References

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