Legal Definitions - comitas

Definition: Comitas is a Latin word that means "courtesy." It is often used in legal contexts to refer to the practice of comity.

Comity is a practice among political entities, such as nations, states, or courts of different jurisdictions. It involves mutual recognition of legislative, executive, and judicial acts. This means that one entity recognizes the laws and decisions made by another entity, even if they have different laws or legal systems.

For example, if a person is convicted of a crime in one country and then flees to another country, the second country may recognize the conviction and extradite the person back to the first country to face punishment. This is an example of comity in action.

Comity is not a matter of absolute obligation, nor is it just a matter of courtesy. It is a recognition that one entity allows within its territory to the acts of another entity, while still considering international duty and convenience, as well as the rights of its own citizens or other people under its protection.

Overall, comitas and comity are important concepts in international law and diplomacy, as they help to promote cooperation and understanding between different political entities.