In a new two-paragraph letter to state and local law enforcement partners, the FBI reiterated its commitment to helping those agencies unlock seized encrypted devices.

The letter was first reported Friday evening and published by BuzzFeed before being sent to Ars and presumably other media outlets.

Earlier this week, government prosecutors formally asked a federal judge in California to cancel her prior order that would have compelled Apple to assist efforts to unlock a seized iPhone linked to the San Bernardino attacks in late 2015. US Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym did so on March 29.

Apple had publicly said in court that it would resist all efforts to force its compliance. Last week, however, the hearing between prosecutors and Apple was postponed less than 24 hours before it was set to take place because the Department of Justice said it was evaluating a new method to access the phone's data.

The government will disclose neither the specific technique that unlocked the phone nor what if any meaningful data was accessed. More than likely, Apple does not have a legal way to compel the government to disclose the iPhone's vulnerability either.

The letter, in its entirely, follows as below: