kiwiandrew
In US Law and NZ, I warrant, (both based on Queen's Bench), A contract must be a legally binding agreement. It is enforceable at Court, once juris and standing are established, (not difficult). So yes, it is founded in the Law, and the Law is a Lady, one who must not be teased.
At Court, the Judge is the Law, and he may issue a subpoena to those he deems may have pertinent information. These beneficiaries of his invitation do not have the luxury to deny, save for declaring a personal and biased interest, founded in their rights at Court. At which time they are subject to indictment as accessories to defraud the Court. In America, any individual, any one, may request a document be divulged. Save for Government security, this request must be honored. To avoid delivery of the document constitutes a felony subject to punishment by the Law.
amica populi, the other side of the coin.