Hague Service Convention—International Service of Process

Water Splash, Inc. v. Menon, No. 16-254

The Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters—to which the United States is a party—addresses the service of judicial documents among member states.  Generally speaking, when the Hague Service Convention applies, certain methods of service are approved and inconsistent methods of service are preempted.  Today, the Supreme Court held that the Convention does not prohibit service by mail.  That question had previously divided the lower courts.  The Supreme Court’s conclusion was unanimous (except for Justice Gorusch, who did not participate), and was announced through an opinion authored by Justice Alito.