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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 1782. Assistance to foreign and international tribunals and to litigants before such tribunals
(a) The district court of the district in which a person resides
or is found may order him to give his testimony or statement or to
produce a document or other thing for use in a proceeding in a
foreign or international tribunal, including criminal
investigations conducted before formal accusation. The order may be
made pursuant to a letter rogatory issued, or request made, by a
foreign or international tribunal or upon the application of any
interested person and may direct that the testimony or statement be
given, or the document or other thing be produced, before a person
appointed by the court. By virtue of his appointment, the person
appointed has power to administer any necessary oath and take the
testimony or statement. The order may prescribe the practice and
procedure, which may be in whole or part the practice and procedure
of the foreign country or the international tribunal, for taking
the testimony or statement or producing the document or other
thing. To the extent that the order does not prescribe otherwise,
the testimony or statement shall be taken, and the document or
other thing produced, in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure.
A person may not be compelled to give his testimony or statement
or to produce a document or other thing in violation of any legally
applicable privilege.
(b) This chapter does not preclude a person within the United
States from voluntarily giving his testimony or statement, or
producing a document or other thing, for use in a proceeding in a
foreign or international tribunal before any person and in any
manner acceptable to him.
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