1. A document issued by one court to a foreign court, requesting that the foreign court (1) take evidence from a specific person within the foreign jurisdiction or serve process on an individual or corporation within the foreign jurisdiction and (2) return the testimony or proof of service for use in a pending case. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 28. — Also termed letter rogatory (rog-[schwa]-tor-ee); rogatory letter; requisitory letter (ri-kwiz-[schwa]-tor-ee). [Cases: Federal Civil Procedure 1312.]
2. An instrument by which an inferior court withdraws or waives jurisdiction so that a matter can be heard in the court immediately above. Pl. letters of request.