foreign judgment

FOREIGN JUDGMENT, evidence, remedies. A judgment rendered in a foreign 
state. 
     2. In Louisiana it has been decided that a judgment rendered by a 
Spanish tribunal, under the former government of the country, is not a 
foreign judgment. 4 M. R. 301 Id. 310. 
     3. The subject will be considered with regard, 1st. To the manner of 
proving such judgment; and 2d. Its efficacy. 
     4. - 1. Foreign judgments are authenticated in various ways; 1. By an 
exemplification, certified under the great seal of the state or country 
where it was rendered. 2. By a copy proved to be a true copy. 3. By the 
certificate of an officer authorized by law, which certificate must, itself, 
be properly authenticated. 2 Cranch, 238; 2 Caines' R. 155; 5 Cranch, 335; 7 
Johns. R. 514 Mass. R. 273 2 Munf. R. 43 4 Camp. R. 28 2 Russ. on Cr. 723. 
There is a difference between the judgments of courts of common law 
jurisdiction and courts of admiralty, as to the mode of proof of judgments 
rendered by them. Courts of admiralty are under the law of nations; 
certificates of such judgments with their seals affixed, will therefore be 
admitted in evidence without further proof. 5 Cranch, 335; 3 Conn. R. 171. 
     5. - 2. A judgment rendered in a foreign country by a court de jure, or 
even a court de facto, 4 Binn. 371, in a matter within its jurisdiction, when

the parties litigant had been notified and have had an opportunity of being 
heard, either establishing a demand, against the defendant or discharging 
him from it, is of binding force. 1 Dall. R. 191; 9 Serg. & Rawle, 260; 10 
Serg. & Rawle, 240; 1 Pet. C. C. R. 155; 1 Spears, Eq. Cas. 229; 7 Branch, 
481. As to the plea of the act of limitation to a suit on a foreign 
judgment, see Bac. Ab. h.t.; 2 Vern. 540; 5 John. R. 132; 13 Serg. & Rawle, 
395; 1 Speer's, Eq. Cas. 219, 229. 
     6. For the manner of proving a judgment obtained in a sister state, see 
the article Authentication. For the French law in relation to the force of 
foreign judgments, see Dalloz, Dict. mot Etranger, art. 6.