Rule 39 – Records of Foreign Proceedings and Notice of Foreign Law

May 13, 2021 | Criminal Procedure, Massachusetts

(Applicable to District Court and Superior Court)

(a) Records of Courts of Other States or of the United States. The records and judicial proceedings of a court of another state or of the United States shall be competent evidence in this Commonwealth if authenticated by the attestation of the clerk or other officer who has charge of the records of such court under its seal.
(b) Notice of Foreign Law. The court shall upon request take judicial notice of the law of the United States or of any state, territory, or dependency thereof or of a foreign country whenever it shall be material.

Mass. R. Crim. P. 39