Legal Definitions - judicial comity

Definition: Judicial comity refers to the recognition and respect that a court of one state or jurisdiction shows to another state or jurisdiction in giving effect to the other's laws and political decisions.

Example: If a court in California is presented with a case that involves a legal issue that has already been decided by a court in New York, the California court may choose to follow the decision made by the New York court out of respect for its legal expertise and authority.

Explanation: This example illustrates how judicial comity works in practice. Even though the California court is not bound by the decision made by the New York court, it may choose to follow it as a matter of comity. This helps to promote consistency and predictability in the application of the law across different jurisdictions.