-CITE-

28 USC CHAPTER 111 - GENERAL PROVISIONS 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 28 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

PART V - PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 111 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

-HEAD-

CHAPTER 111 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

-MISC1-

Sec.

1651. Writs.

1652. State laws as rules of decision.

1653. Amendment of pleadings to show jurisdiction.

1654. Appearance personally or by counsel.

1655. Lien enforcement; absent defendants.

1656. Creation of new district or division or transfer of

territory; lien enforcement.

1657. Priority of civil actions.

1658. Time limitations on the commencement of civil actions

arising under Acts of Congress.

1659. Stay of certain actions pending disposition of related

proceedings before the United States International

Trade Commission.

AMENDMENTS

1994 - Pub. L. 103-465, title III, Sec. 321(b)(1)(B), Dec. 8,

1994, 108 Stat. 4946, added item 1659.

1990 - Pub. L. 101-650, title III, Sec. 313(b), Dec. 1, 1990, 104

Stat. 5115, added item 1658.

1984 - Pub. L. 98-620, title IV, Sec. 401(b), Nov. 8, 1984, 98

Stat. 3357, added item 1657.

-End-

-CITE-

28 USC Sec. 1651 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 28 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

PART V - PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 111 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

-HEAD-

Sec. 1651. Writs

-STATUTE-

(a) The Supreme Court and all courts established by Act of

Congress may issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of

their respective jurisdictions and agreeable to the usages and

principles of law.

(b) An alternative writ or rule nisi may be issued by a justice

or judge of a court which has jurisdiction.

-SOURCE-

(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 944; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, Sec.

90, 63 Stat. 102.)

-MISC1-

HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES

1948 ACT

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Secs. 342, 376, 377 (Mar. 3,

1911, ch. 231, Secs. 234, 261, 262, 36 Stat. 1156, 1162).

Section consolidates sections 342, 376, and 377 of title 28,

U.S.C., 1940 ed., with necessary changes in phraseology.

Such section 342 provided:

"The Supreme Court shall have power to issue writs of prohibition

to the district courts, when proceeding as courts of admiralty and

maritime jurisdiction; and writs of mandamus, in cases warranted by

the principles and usages of law, to any courts appointed under the

authority of the United States, or to persons holding office under

the authority of the United States, where a State, or an

ambassador, or other public minister, or a consul, or vice consul

is a party."

Such section 376 provided:

"Writs of ne exeat may be granted by any justice of the Supreme

Court, in cases where they might be granted by the Supreme Court;

and by any district judge, in cases where they might be granted by

the district court of which he is a judge. But no writ of ne exeat

shall be granted unless a suit in equity is commenced, and

satisfactory proof is made to the court or judge granting the same

that the defendant designs quickly to depart from the United

States."

Such section 377 provided:

"The Supreme Court and the district courts shall have power to

issue writs of scire facias. The Supreme Court, the circuit courts

of appeals, and the district courts shall have power to issue all

writs not specifically provided for by statute, which may be

necessary for the exercise of their respective jurisdictions, and

agreeable to the usages and principles of law."

The special provisions of section 342 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940

ed., with reference to writs of prohibition and mandamus, admiralty

courts and other courts and officers of the United States were

omitted as unnecessary in view of the revised section.

The revised section extends the power to issue writs in aid of

jurisdiction, to all courts established by Act of Congress, thus

making explicit the right to exercise powers implied from the

creation of such courts.

The provisions of section 376 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with

respect to the powers of a justice or judge in issuing writs of ne

exeat were changed and made the basis of subsection (b) of the

revised section but the conditions and limitations on the writ of

ne exeat were omitted as merely confirmatory of well-settled

principles of law.

The provision in section 377 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed.,

authorizing issuance of writs of scire facias, was omitted in view

of rule 81(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure abolishing

such writ. The revised section is expressive of the construction

recently placed upon such section by the Supreme Court in U.S.

Alkali Export Assn. v. U.S., 65 S.Ct. 1120, 325 U.S. 196, 89 L.Ed.

1554, and De Beers Consol. Mines v. U.S., 65 S.Ct. 1130, 325 U.S.

212, 89 L.Ed. 1566.

1949 ACT

This section corrects a grammatical error in subsection (a) of

section 1651 of title 28, U.S.C.

AMENDMENTS

1949 - Subsec. (a). Act May 24, 1949, inserted "and" after

"jurisdictions".

WRIT OF ERROR

Act Jan. 31, 1928, ch. 14, Sec. 2, 45 Stat. 54, as amended Apr.

26, 1928, ch. 440, 45 Stat. 466; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, Sec. 23,

62 Stat. 990, provided that: "All Acts of Congress referring to

writs of error shall be construed as amended to the extent

necessary to substitute appeal for writ of error."

-SECREF-

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in sections 1407, 3202 of this title.

-End-

-CITE-

28 USC Sec. 1652 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 28 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

PART V - PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 111 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

-HEAD-

Sec. 1652. State laws as rules of decision

-STATUTE-

The laws of the several states, except where the Constitution or

treaties of the United States or Acts of Congress otherwise require

or provide, shall be regarded as rules of decision in civil actions

in the courts of the United States, in cases where they apply.

-SOURCE-

(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 944.)

-MISC1-

HISTORICAL REVISION NOTES

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 725 (R.S. Sec. 721).

"Civil actions" was substituted for "trials at common law" to

clarify the meaning of the Rules of Decision Act in the light of

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Such Act has been held to

apply to suits in equity.

Changes were made in phraseology.

-End-

-CITE-

28 USC Sec. 1653 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 28 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

PART V - PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 111 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

-HEAD-

Sec. 1653. Amendment of pleadings to show jurisdiction

-STATUTE-

Defective allegations of jurisdiction may be amended, upon terms,

in the trial or appellate courts.

-SOURCE-

(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 944.)

-MISC1-

HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 399 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch.

231, Sec. 274c, as added Mar. 3, 1915, ch. 90, 38 Stat. 956).

Section was extended to permit amendment of all jurisdictional

allegations instead of merely allegations of diversity of

citizenship as provided by section 399 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940

ed.

Changes were made in phraseology.

-End-

-CITE-

28 USC Sec. 1654 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 28 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

PART V - PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 111 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

-HEAD-

Sec. 1654. Appearance personally or by counsel

-STATUTE-

In all courts of the United States the parties may plead and

conduct their own cases personally or by counsel as, by the rules

of such courts, respectively, are permitted to manage and conduct

causes therein.

-SOURCE-

(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 944; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, Sec.

91, 63 Stat. 103.)

-MISC1-

HISTORICAL REVISION NOTES

1948 ACT

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 394 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch.

231, Sec. 272, 36 Stat. 1164).

Words "as, by the rules of the said courts respectively, are

permitted to manage and conduct causes therein," after "counsel,"

were omitted as surplusage. The revised section and section 2071 of

this title effect no change in the procedure of the Tax Court

before which certain accountants may be admitted as counsel for

litigants under Rule 2 of the Tax Court.

Changes were made in phraseology.

1949 ACT

This section restores in section 1654 of title 28, U.S.C.,

language of the original law.

AMENDMENTS

1949 - Act May 24, 1949, inserted "as, by the rules of such

courts, respectively, are permitted to manage and conduct causes

therein".

-End-

-CITE-

28 USC Sec. 1655 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 28 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

PART V - PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 111 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

-HEAD-

Sec. 1655. Lien enforcement; absent defendants

-STATUTE-

In an action in a district court to enforce any lien upon or

claim to, or to remove any incumbrance or lien or cloud upon the

title to, real or personal property within the district, where any

defendant cannot be served within the State, or does not

voluntarily appear, the court may order the absent defendant to

appear or plead by a day certain.

Such order shall be served on the absent defendant personally if

practicable, wherever found, and also upon the person or persons in

possession or charge of such property, if any. Where personal

service is not practicable, the order shall be published as the

court may direct, not less than once a week for six consecutive

weeks.

If an absent defendant does not appear or plead within the time

allowed, the court may proceed as if the absent defendant had been

served with process within the State, but any adjudication shall,

as regards the absent defendant without appearance, affect only the

property which is the subject of the action. When a part of the

property is within another district, but within the same state,

such action may be brought in either district.

Any defendant not so personally notified may, at any time within

one year after final judgment, enter his appearance, and thereupon

the court shall set aside the judgment and permit such defendant to

plead on payment of such costs as the court deems just.

-SOURCE-

(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 944.)

-MISC1-

HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 118 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch.

231, Sec. 57, 36 Stat. 1102).

Word "action" was substituted for "suit," in view of Rule 2 of

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

In view of Rule 4(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

permitting service of process anywhere within the territorial

limits of the States, the word "State" was substituted for

"district" in the first and third paragraphs.

Changes were made in phraseology.

-End-

-CITE-

28 USC Sec. 1656 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 28 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

PART V - PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 111 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

-HEAD-

Sec. 1656. Creation of new district or division or transfer of

territory; lien enforcement

-STATUTE-

The creation of a new district or division or the transfer of any

territory to another district or division shall not affect or

divest any lien theretofore acquired in a district court upon

property within such district, division or territory.

To enforce such lien, the clerk of the court in which the same is

acquired, upon the request and at the cost of the party desiring

the same, shall make a certified copy of the record thereof, which,

when filed in the proper court of the district or division in which

such property is situated after such creation or transfer shall be

evidence in all courts and places equally with the original

thereof; and, thereafter like proceedings shall be had thereon, and

with the same effect, as though the case or proceeding had been

originally instituted in such court.

-SOURCE-

(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 944; Pub. L. 95-598, title II,

Sec. 242, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2671.)

-MISC1-

HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 122 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch.

231, Sec. 60, 36 Stat. 1103).

A provision as to creation of a new district or division or

transfer of territory before March 3, 1911, was omitted as

obsolete.

Words descriptive of the lien were omitted as unnecessary.

Changes were made in phraseology.

AMENDMENTS

1978 - Pub. L. 95-598 directed the amendment of section by

inserting "or in a bankruptcy court" after "a district court",

which amendment did not become effective pursuant to section 402(b)

of Pub. L. 95-598, as amended, set out as an Effective Date note

preceding section 101 of Title 11, Bankruptcy.

-End-

-CITE-

28 USC Sec. 1657 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 28 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

PART V - PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 111 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

-HEAD-

Sec. 1657. Priority of civil actions

-STATUTE-

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each court of the

United States shall determine the order in which civil actions are

heard and determined, except that the court shall expedite the

consideration of any action brought under chapter 153 or section

1826 of this title, any action for temporary or preliminary

injunctive relief, or any other action if good cause therefor is

shown. For purposes of this subsection, "good cause" is shown if a

right under the Constitution of the United States or a Federal

Statute (including rights under section 552 of title 5) would be

maintained in a factual context that indicates that a request for

expedited consideration has merit.

(b) The Judicial Conference of the United States may modify the

rules adopted by the courts to determine the order in which civil

actions are heard and determined, in order to establish consistency

among the judicial circuits.

-SOURCE-

(Added Pub. L. 98-620, title IV, Sec. 401(a), Nov. 8, 1984, 98

Stat. 3356.)

-MISC1-

EFFECTIVE DATE

Section 403 of Pub. L. 98-620 provided that: "The amendments made

by this subtitle [subtitle A (Secs. 401-403) of title IV of Pub. L.

98-620, enacting this section, amending sections 596, 636, 1364,

2284, and 2349 of this title, sections 437g, 437h, and 687 of Title

2, The Congress, section 552 of Title 5, Government Organization

and Employees, sections 8, 136d, 136h, 136n, 136w, 194, 1366, 1600,

and 1601 of Title 7, Agriculture, section 1464 of Title 12, Banks

and Banking, sections 18a, 21, 45, 57a-1, 78k-1, 687a, 687c, 719h,

1415, 2003, and 2622 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, sections

1463a, 1910, 3117, and 3168 of Title 16, Conservation, sections

1964 and 1966 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, sections

346a and 348 of Title 21, Food and Drugs, section 618 of Title 22,

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, section 640d-3 of Title 25,

Indians, sections 3310, 6110, 6363, 7609, 9010, and 9011 of Title

26, Internal Revenue Code, sections 110, 160, 660, and 1303 of

Title 29, Labor, section 816 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining,

section 2022 [now 4302] of Title 38, Veterans' Benefits, section

3628 of Title 39, Postal Service, sections 300j-9, 504, 6508, and

8514 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, sections 1062,

1349, 1652, and 2011 of Title 43, Public Lands, sections 355, 745,

1018, and 1205 of Title 45, Railroads, section 402 of Title 47,

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs, section 2305 of former

Title 49, Transportation, section 792a of Title 50, War and

National Defense, and sections 462 and 1984 of Title 50, Appendix,

repealing sections 1296 and 2647 of this title, section 28 of Title

15, and section 3614 of Title 42, and amending provisions set out

as a note under section 2304 of Title 10, Armed Forces] shall not

apply to cases pending on the date of the enactment of this

subtitle [Nov. 8, 1984]."

-SECREF-

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in title 12 section 1821.

-End-

-CITE-

28 USC Sec. 1658 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 28 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

PART V - PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 111 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

-HEAD-

Sec. 1658. Time limitations on the commencement of civil actions

arising under Acts of Congress

-STATUTE-

(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, a civil action arising

under an Act of Congress enacted after the date of the enactment of

this section may not be commenced later than 4 years after the

cause of action accrues.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a private right of action

that involves a claim of fraud, deceit, manipulation, or

contrivance in contravention of a regulatory requirement concerning

the securities laws, as defined in section 3(a)(47) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(47)), may be

brought not later than the earlier of -

(1) 2 years after the discovery of the facts constituting the

violation; or

(2) 5 years after such violation.

-SOURCE-

(Added Pub. L. 101-650, title III, Sec. 313(a), Dec. 1, 1990, 104

Stat. 5114; amended Pub. L. 107-204, title VIII, Sec. 804(a), July

30, 2002, 116 Stat. 801.)

-REFTEXT-

REFERENCES IN TEXT

The date of the enactment of this section, referred to in subsec.

(a), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 101-650, which was

approved Dec. 1, 1990.

-MISC1-

AMENDMENTS

2002 - Pub. L. 107-204 designated existing provisions as subsec.

(a) and added subsec. (b).

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2002 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 107-204, title VIII, Sec. 804(b), July 30, 2002, 116

Stat. 801, provided that: "The limitations period provided by

section 1658(b) of title 28, United States Code, as added by this

section, shall apply to all proceedings addressed by this section

that are commenced on or after the date of enactment of this Act

[July 30, 2002]."

EFFECTIVE DATE

Section 313(c) of Pub. L. 101-650 provided that: "The amendments

made by this section [enacting this section] shall apply with

respect to causes of action accruing on or after the date of the

enactment of this Act [Dec. 1, 1990]."

NO CREATION OF ACTIONS

Pub. L. 107-204, title VIII, Sec. 804(c), July 30, 2002, 116

Stat. 801, provided that: "Nothing in this section [amending this

section and enacting provisions set out as a note under this

section] shall create a new, private right of action."

-End-

-CITE-

28 USC Sec. 1659 01/06/03

-EXPCITE-

TITLE 28 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

PART V - PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 111 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

-HEAD-

Sec. 1659. Stay of certain actions pending disposition of related

proceedings before the United States International Trade

Commission

-STATUTE-

(a) Stay. - In a civil action involving parties that are also

parties to a proceeding before the United States International

Trade Commission under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, at

the request of a party to the civil action that is also a

respondent in the proceeding before the Commission, the district

court shall stay, until the determination of the Commission becomes

final, proceedings in the civil action with respect to any claim

that involves the same issues involved in the proceeding before the

Commission, but only if such request is made within -

(1) 30 days after the party is named as a respondent in the

proceeding before the Commission, or

(2) 30 days after the district court action is filed,

whichever is later.

(b) Use of Commission Record. - Notwithstanding section 337(n)(1)

of the Tariff Act of 1930, after dissolution of a stay under

subsection (a), the record of the proceeding before the United

States International Trade Commission shall be transmitted to the

district court and shall be admissible in the civil action, subject

to such protective order as the district court determines

necessary, to the extent permitted under the Federal Rules of

Evidence and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

-SOURCE-

(Added Pub. L. 103-465, title III, Sec. 321(b)(1)(A), Dec. 8, 1994,

108 Stat. 4945.)

-REFTEXT-

REFERENCES IN TEXT

Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in text, is

classified to section 1337 of Title 19, Customs Duties.

The Federal Rules of Evidence and the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, referred to in subsec. (b), are set out in the Appendix

to this title.

-MISC1-

EFFECTIVE DATE

Section applicable with respect to complaints filed under section

1337 of Title 19, Customs Duties, on or after the date on which the

World Trade Organization Agreement enters into force with respect

to the United States [Jan. 1, 1995], or in cases under section 1337

of Title 19 in which no complaint is filed, with respect to

investigations initiated under such section on or after such date,

see section 322 of Pub. L. 103-465, set out as an Effective Date of

1994 Amendment note under section 1337 of Title 19.

-End-