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State Judgments in Federal Court

The full faith and credit doctrine as applicable to the federal courts in recognizing the records and judicial proceedings of state courts is contained in 28 U.S.C. § 1738.  The full faith and credit rule pertains to recognition by state courts of the records and judicial proceedings of courts of sister States; this includes every court within the United States.  This provision also includes recognition of the records and proceedings of the courts of any territory or any country subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.  By this provision, the federal courts are also bound to give to the judgments of the state courts the same faith and credit that the courts of one State are bound to give to the judgments of the courts of their sister States. Under circumstances where suits to enforce the laws of one State are considered in courts of another on principles of comity, the federal district courts sitting in that State may entertain them if there is no infringement of any federal law or policy.


Inside State Judgments in Federal Court