Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§3507 Special Master at Foreign Deposition
Title 18 › PART II — CRIMINAL PROCEDURE › CHAPTER 223 — WITNESSES AND EVIDENCE › § 3507
Summary
If asked in a criminal case, a US district court may appoint a special master to conduct a deposition in a foreign country if that country permits. The master may preside or advise on US law but may not decide privilege under foreign law. Refusing a master does not affect admissibility under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §3507
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Upon application of a party to a criminal case, a United States district court before which the case is pending may, to the extent permitted by a foreign country, appoint a special master to carry out at a deposition taken in that country such duties as the court may direct, including presiding at the deposition or serving as an advisor on questions of United States law. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a special master appointed under this section shall not decide questions of privilege under foreign law. The refusal of a court to appoint a special master under this section, or of the foreign country to permit a special master appointed under this section to carry out a duty at a deposition in that country, shall not affect the admissibility in evidence of a deposition taken under the provisions of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 30 days after Oct. 12, 1984, see section 1220 of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as a note under section 3505 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 3507
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102