Legal corpus: the complete U.S. Code (59,740 sections, all 53 titles)

Ingested titles 12–51 and 54 from OLRC USLM XML @119-100 (the whole Code
now, uniform edition; Title 53 is reserved/empty). LegalText 11,221 ->
59,740; repo total 105,704 records. Deterministic (byte-identical rerun,
verified on Title 42's 8,356 sections); make check green. make
legal-us-code default now covers every title.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>
This commit is contained in:
Fabio
2026-07-06 10:51:44 -04:00
parent 511d65f9a0
commit 76b8ec33a7
48603 changed files with 3677193 additions and 4 deletions
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
---
type: "LegalText"
title: "28 U.S.C. § 251"
description: "Appointment and number of judges; offices"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
chapter_number: "11"
chapter_name: "COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE"
section: "251"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 251"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc28@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s251"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-28/usc28.xml"
source_hash: "3806a5cb0e5cba69e26af44e508e330c4ff4e0e68575dc1ca0ded2ad3fe4f4ff"
raw_snapshot_hash: "3390f867a2c02f5d0c496269da780795fe19663a090a3040c64a9ee0a541cdcf"
text_hash: "96d0c0af2f25c60eecc6212d25326c73622bc94696abc93d8e33f27eaeb03c10"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---
# 28 U.S.C. § 251 - Appointment and number of judges; offices
## Text
(a) The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, nine judges who shall constitute a court of record to be known as the United States Court of International Trade. Not more than five of such judges shall be from the same political party. The court is a court established under article III of the Constitution of the United States.
(b) The offices of the Court of International Trade shall be located in New York, New York.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 899; July 14, 1956, ch. 589, § 1, 70 Stat. 532; Pub. L. 96417, title I, § 101, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1727; Pub. L. 104317, title V, § 501(b)(1), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3856.)
## Notes
Historical and Revision NotesBased on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 296 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 187(a), as added Oct. 10, 1940, ch. 843, § 1, 54 Stat. 1101). This section contains only a part of section 296 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed. Other provisions of such section are incorporated in sections 252, 253, 254, 455, 1581, 2071, 2639, and 2640 of this title. The provision that vacancies should be filled by appointment of the President and confirmed by the Senate was omitted as unnecessary in view of the language of the revised section. Words “a court of record known as” were added. (See Revisers Note under section 171 of this title.) The term “chief judge” was substituted for “presiding judge.” (See revisers note under section 136 of this title.) The provisions of such section 296 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., relating to assignment and powers of retired judges were omitted as covered by sections 294 and 296 of this title. Changes in phraseology were made.
Editorial Notes
Amendments1996—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 104317 redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: “The President shall designate one of the judges of the Court of International Trade who is less than seventy years of age to serve as chief judge. The chief judge shall continue to serve as chief judge until he reaches the age of seventy years and another judge is designated as chief judge by the President. After the designation of another judge to serve as chief judge, the former chief judge may continue to serve as a judge of the court.” 1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96417 incorporated first par. in provisions designated subsec. (a), redesignated the United States Customs Court as the United States Court of International Trade, and deleted “appointed” before “shall be”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96417 added subsec. (b) and struck out a second paragraph requiring the President to designate from time to time one of the judges to act as chief judge. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96417 designated third par. as subsec. (c) and substituted “Court of International Trade” for “court” and “located in New York, New York” for “located at the port of New York”. 1956—Act July 14, 1956, declared the Customs Court to be a court established under article III of the Constitution of the United States.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 AmendmentPub. L. 96417, title VII, § 701, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1747, as amended by Pub. L. 96542, § 1, Dec. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 3209, provided that: “(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of and amendments made by this Act [see section 1 of Pub. L. 96417, set out as a Short Title of 1980 Amendment note under section 1 of this title] shall take effect on November 1, 1980 and shall apply with respect to civil actions pending on or commenced on or after such date. “(b)(1) The following sections of title 28, United States Code, shall apply with respect to civil actions commenced on or after the effective date of this Act [Nov. 1, 1980]:“(A) Sections 1581(d), 1581(g), 1581(h), 1581(i), and 1583, as amended by section 201 of this Act. “(B) Sections 2631(d), 2631(g), 2631(h), 2631(i), 2631(j), 2632(a), 2635, 2636, 2637(c), 2639(b), 2640(a)(5), 2640(c), 2640(d), 2643(a), 2643(c)(2), 2643(c)(4), and 2644, as amended by section 301 of this Act. “(C) Section 1876, as added by section 302(a) of this Act. “(D) Sections 2601 and 2602, as amended by section 403 of this Act. “(E) Section 1919, as amended by section 510 of this Act. “(F) Section 1963A, as added by section 511(a) of this Act. “(2) Sections 337(c) and 641(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 [19 U.S.C. 1337(c) and 1641(b)], as amended by sections 604 and 611 of this Act, shall apply with respect to civil actions commenced on or after the effective date of this Act. “(3) Section 284 of the Trade Act of 1974 [19 U.S.C. 2395], as added by section 613 of this Act, shall apply with respect to civil actions commenced on or after the effective date of this Act. “(c)(1) The following sections of title 28, United States Code, shall apply with respect to civil actions commenced on or after the 90th day after the effective date of this Act [Nov. 1, 1980]:“(A) Sections 1582, 2639(a)(2), and 2640(a)(6), as amended by sections 201 and 301 of this Act. “(B) Sections 1352, 1355, and 1356, as amended by sections 506, 507, and 508 of this Act. “(2) Section 592(e) of the Tariff Act of 1930 [19 U.S.C. 1592(e)], as amended by section 609 of this Act, shall apply with respect to civil actions commenced on or after 90th day after the effective date of this Act.” [Amendment of section 701 of Pub. L. 96417, set out above, by Pub. L. 96542 effective as of Nov. 1, 1980, see section 3 of Pub. L. 96542, set out as a note under section 1516a of Title 19, Customs Duties.]
References to Certain Courts Deemed References to the United States Court of International TradePub. L. 96417, title VII, § 702, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1748, provided that: “Any reference in any statute or regulation of the United States to the United States Customs Court, the U.S. Customs Court, or the Customs Court shall be deemed to be a reference to the United States Court of International Trade.”
Effect on Customs Court JudgesPub. L. 96417, title VII, § 703, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1748, provided that: “(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the amendments made by title I of this Act [amending this section and section 293 of this title] shall not affect the status of any individual serving as judge or chief judge of the Customs Court on the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 10, 1980]. “(b) The requirement that a person may not continue to serve as chief judge of the Court of International Trade after having reached the age of seventy years, as set forth in the amendment made by section 101 of this Act [amending this section], shall apply to any individual serving as chief judge on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 10, 1980].”
Effect on Pending CasesPub. L. 96417, title VII, § 704, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1748, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [see section 1 of Pub. L. 96417, set out as a Short Title of 1980 Amendment note under section 1 of this title] shall cause the dismissal of any action commenced prior to the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 10, 1980] under jurisdictional statutes relating to the Customs Court or the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals as in effect immediately prior to such date of enactment [Oct. 10, 1980].”
Tennessee Valley Authority Legal RepresentationPub. L. 96417, title VII, § 705, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1748, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [see section 1 of Pub. L. 96417, set out as a Short Title of 1980 Amendment note under section 1 of this title] affects the authority of the Tennessee Valley Authority under the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 [16 U.S.C. 831 et seq.] to represent itself by attorneys of its choosing.”
Limitation or Alteration of JurisdictionAct July 14, 1956, ch. 589, § 4, 70 Stat. 532, provided that: “Nothing contained in this Act [amending this section and sections 292, 293, and 295 of this title] shall be construed in any way to limit or alter the jurisdiction heretofore conferred upon the United States Customs Court [now Court of International Trade] by any provision of law.”
Continuation of Organization of CourtAct June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 2(b), 62 Stat. 985, provided in part that the provisions of this title as set out in section 1 of act June 25, 1948, with respect to the organization of the court, shall be construed as continuations of existing law, and the tenure of the judges, officers, and employees, in office on Sept. 1, 1948, shall not be affected by its enactment, but each of them shall continue to serve in the same capacity under the appropriate provisions of this title, pursuant to his prior appointment.
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
---
type: "LegalText"
title: "28 U.S.C. § 252"
description: "Tenure and salaries of judges"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
chapter_number: "11"
chapter_name: "COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE"
section: "252"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 252"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc28@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s252"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-28/usc28.xml"
source_hash: "8d360cbf5b4b2e24cab1ed0d6e86e9ff3eb8e9653c591466f47015ad4522d3d5"
raw_snapshot_hash: "3390f867a2c02f5d0c496269da780795fe19663a090a3040c64a9ee0a541cdcf"
text_hash: "91725dccd7a47662578f0b8621f9d02864b5ca70c6afc49dd49a82156a1826ae"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---
# 28 U.S.C. § 252 - Tenure and salaries of judges
## Text
Judges of the Court of International Trade shall hold office during good behavior. Each shall receive a salary at an annual rate determined under section 225 of the Federal Salary Act of 1967 (2 U.S.C. 351361), as adjusted by section 461 of this title.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 899; Mar. 2, 1955, ch. 9, § 1(f), 69 Stat. 10; Pub. L. 88426, title IV, § 403(f), Aug. 14, 1964, 78 Stat. 434; Pub. L. 9482, title II, § 205(b)(6), Aug. 9, 1975, 89 Stat. 423; Pub. L. 96417, title V, § 502, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1742.)
## Notes
Historical and Revision NotesBased on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 296 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 187(a), as added Oct. 10, 1940, ch. 843, § 1, 54 Stat. 1101; July 31, 1946, ch. 704, § 1, 60 Stat. 716). This section contains a part of section 296 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Other provisions of such section are incorporated in sections 251, 253, 254, 456, 1581, 2071, 2639, and 2640 of this title. A provision exempting judges salaries from section 1790 of the Revised Statutes was omitted, as such section was repealed by act Aug. 26, 1935, ch. 689, § 1, 49 Stat. 864. A provision for monthly salary payments was omitted since time of payment is a matter for administrative determination. Changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
References in TextSection 225 of the Federal Salary Act of 1967, referred to in text, is section 225 of Pub. L. 90206, Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 642, which is classified to chapter 11 (§ 351 et seq.) of Title 2, The Congress.
Amendments1980—Pub. L. 96417 substituted “Judges of the Court of International Trade” for “Judge of the Customs Court”. 1975—Pub. L. 9482 substituted provision that each judge shall receive a salary at an annual rate determined under section 225 of the Federal Salary Act of 1967, as adjusted by section 461 of this title, for provision that each judge shall receive a salary of $30,000 a year. 1964—Pub. L. 88426 increased salaries of judges from $22,500 to $30,000 a year. 1955—Act Mar. 2, 1955, increased salaries of judges from $15,000 to $22,500 a year.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96417 effective Nov. 1, 1980, and applicable with respect to civil actions pending on or commenced on or after such date, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 96417, set out as a note under section 251 of this title.
Effective Date of 1964 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 88426 effective on first day of first pay period which begins on or after July 1, 1964, except to the extent provided in section 501(c) of Pub. L. 88426, see section 501 of Pub. L. 88426.
Effective Date of 1955 AmendmentAmendment by act Mar. 2, 1955, effective Mar. 1, 1955, see section 5 of act Mar. 2, 1955, set out as a note under section 4501 of Title 2, The Congress.
Statutory Notes and Executive Documents
Salary IncreasesFor adjustment of salaries of judges under this section, see the executive order detailing the adjustment of certain rates of pay set out as a note under section 5332 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. For prior year salary increases per the recommendation of the President, see Prior Salary Recommendations notes under section 358 of Title 2, The Congress. For miscellaneous provisions dealing with adjustments of pay and limitations on use of funds to pay salaries in prior years, see notes under section 5318 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Salaries of presiding judge and associate judges increased from $10,000 to $15,000 a year by act July 31, 1946, ch. 704, § 1, 60 Stat. 716. Salaries of presiding judge and associate judges increased from $9,000 to $10,000 a year by the Tariff Act of 1930, act June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 518, 46 Stat. 737.
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
---
type: "LegalText"
title: "28 U.S.C. § 253"
description: "Duties of chief judge"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
chapter_number: "11"
chapter_name: "COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE"
section: "253"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 253"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc28@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s253"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-28/usc28.xml"
source_hash: "d428383a412386ee9d4c47f02d22773b1eb25fd14a113938c3df45b3fb956866"
raw_snapshot_hash: "3390f867a2c02f5d0c496269da780795fe19663a090a3040c64a9ee0a541cdcf"
text_hash: "02dd168555bc475184ec50e984a9c499a602476822397474a60b9baec61afefb"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---
# 28 U.S.C. § 253 - Duties of chief judge
## Text
(a) The chief judge of the Court of International Trade, with the approval of the court, shall supervise the fiscal affairs and clerical force of the court; 11 So in original. The semicolon probably should be a period.
(b) The chief judge shall promulgate dockets.
(c) The chief judge, under rules of the court, may designate any judge or judges of the court to try any case and, when the circumstances so warrant, reassign the case to another judge or judges.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 900; Pub. L. 86243, § 3, Sept. 9, 1959, 73 Stat. 474; Pub. L. 91271, title I, § 105, June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 276; Pub. L. 96417, title V, § 501(3), Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1742; Pub. L. 104317, title V, § 501(b)(2), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3856.)
## Notes
Historical and Revision NotesBased on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 296 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 187(a), as added Oct. 10, 1940, ch. 843, § 1, 54 Stat. 1101). This section contains a part of section 296 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed. Other provisions of such section are incorporated in sections 251, 252, 254, 456, 1581, 2071, 2639, and 2640 of this title. Provision respecting recommendations for appointment, promotions, or otherwise affecting such clerical force, was omitted as unnecessary in view of section 871 of this title. The second paragraph is partly new and conforms with similar provisions of section 136(e) of this title, relating to the chief judges of district courts. The term “chief judge” was substituted for “presiding judge.” (See Revisers Note under section 136 of this title.) Changes were made in phraseology and arrangement.
Editorial Notes
Amendments1996—Pub. L. 104317 struck out “; precedence of judges” after “chief judge” in section catchline and struck out subsecs. (d) and (e) which read as follows: “(d) Whenever the chief judge is unable to perform the duties of his office or the office is vacant, his powers and duties shall devolve upon the judge next in precedence who is able to act, until such disability is removed or another chief judge is appointed and duly qualified. “(e) The chief judge shall have precedence and shall preside at any session which he attends. Other judges shall have precedence and shall preside according to the seniority of their commissions. Judges whose commissions bear the same date shall have precedence according to seniority in age.” 1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96417 redesignated the Customs Court as the Court of International Trade. 1970—Pub. L. 91271 reorganized existing provisions into lettered subsecs. (a) to (e) and made minor changes in phraseology. 1959—Pub. L. 86243 required the chief judge to supervise the fiscal affairs and clerical force of the court, with the approval of the court.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96417 effective Nov. 1, 1980, and applicable with respect to civil actions pending on or commenced on or after such date, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 96417, set out as a note under section 251 of this title.
Effective Date of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91271 effective Oct. 1, 1970, see section 122 of Pub. L. 91271, set out as a note under section 256 of this title.
Savings ProvisionAmendment by Pub. L. 86243 not to deprive Customs Court [now Court of International Trade] officers or employees of any rights, privileges, or civil service status, see section 4 of Pub. L. 86243, set out as a note under section 871 of this title.
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
---
type: "LegalText"
title: "28 U.S.C. § 254"
description: "Single-judge trials"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
chapter_number: "11"
chapter_name: "COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE"
section: "254"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 254"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc28@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s254"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-28/usc28.xml"
source_hash: "841209a06d073539add4e7b067808bbf72f1983a70021cae780a9d8a42eea188"
raw_snapshot_hash: "3390f867a2c02f5d0c496269da780795fe19663a090a3040c64a9ee0a541cdcf"
text_hash: "dbc4a3143f5512247f2b007a953927a3fc319430f43e8054762c37b1635044bf"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---
# 28 U.S.C. § 254 - Single-judge trials
## Text
Except as otherwise provided in section 255 of this title, the judicial power of the Court of International Trade with respect to any action, suit or proceeding shall be exercised by a single judge, who may preside alone and hold a regular or special session of court at the same time other sessions are held by other judges.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 900; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 66, 63 Stat. 99; Pub. L. 91271, title I, § 106, June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 277; Pub. L. 96417, title V, § 501(4), Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1742.)
## Notes
Historical and Revision Notes
1948 ActBased on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 296 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, 187(a), as added Oct. 10, 1940, ch. 843, § 1, 54 Stat. 1101). This section contains a part of section 296 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed. Other provisions of such section are incorporated in sections 251, 252, 253, 456, 1581, 2071, 2639, and 2640 of this title. Words “when in the opinion of such division or judge the ends of justice so require,” which followed the phrase “grant a rehearing or retrial,” were omitted as surplusage. The term “chief judge” was substituted for “presiding judge.” (See revisers note under section 136 of this title.) The phrase “petitions for remission of additional duties” was added to the first paragraph at the suggestion of the court to conform to existing practice. Reappraisement appeals are heard by a single judge and reviewed by a division. (See sections 2631 and 2636 of this title.) The provision of section 296 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., that the presiding judge shall designate one of the three judges of a division to preside over such division was omitted as in conflict with section 253 of this title (also taken from section 296 of title 28 U.S.C., 1940 ed.), which provides that judges shall preside according to the seniority of their commissions. The latter provision is in accord with present practice. Changes were made in arrangement and phraseology.
1949 ActThis amendment clarifies section 254 of title 28, U.S.C., by restoring language of the original law.
Editorial Notes
Prior ProvisionsProvisions similar to those relating to the assignment of judges to hear and determine cases, and provisions similar to those authorizing the chief judge to designate judges to hear and determine cases within the jurisdiction of the United States, formerly contained in this section, are covered by sections 255 and 256 of this title, respectively.
Amendments1980—Pub. L. 96417 redesignated the Customs Court as the Court of International Trade. 1970—Pub. L. 91271 substituted in section catchline “Single-judge trials” for “Divisions; powers and assignments” and substituted provisions in text requiring the judicial power of the Customs Court with respect to any action, suit, or proceeding to be exercised by a single judge, for provisions setting forth the powers of the chief judge of the Customs Court with respect to the organization of such Court into divisions, and the assignment of judges to hear and determine pending cases. 1949—Act May 24, 1949, inserted “to hear or” before “to hear and determine” in third par.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96417 effective Nov. 1, 1980, and applicable with respect to civil actions pending on or commenced on or after such date, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 96417, set out as a note under section 251 of this title.
Effective Date of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91271 effective Oct. 1, 1970, see section 122 of Pub. L. 91271, set out as a note under section 256 of this title.
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
---
type: "LegalText"
title: "28 U.S.C. § 255"
description: "Three-judge trials"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
chapter_number: "11"
chapter_name: "COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE"
section: "255"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 255"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc28@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s255"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-28/usc28.xml"
source_hash: "26f7ed9109af8e47a112f9dcaa9720e40b5bdaafdb730e20ddc927b9b2698360"
raw_snapshot_hash: "3390f867a2c02f5d0c496269da780795fe19663a090a3040c64a9ee0a541cdcf"
text_hash: "fb7548cf24e0cb1a89c2c6ac03cafc0ee2e034f444332aaf8ad8f85163f1a515"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---
# 28 U.S.C. § 255 - Three-judge trials
## Text
(a) Upon application of any party to a civil action, or upon his own initiative, the chief judge of the Court of International Trade shall designate any three judges of the court to hear and determine any civil action which the chief judge finds: (1) raises an issue of the constitutionality of an Act of Congress, a proclamation of the President or an Executive order; or (2) has broad or significant implications in the administration or interpretation of the customs laws.
(b) A majority of the three judges designated may hear and determine the civil action and all questions pending therein.
(Added Pub. L. 91271, title I, § 108, June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 277; amended Pub. L. 96417, title V, § 501(5), Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1742.)
## Notes
Editorial Notes
Prior ProvisionsA prior section 255 was renumbered section 257 of this title.
Amendments1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96417 redesignated the Customs Court as the Court of International Trade.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96417 effective Nov. 1, 1980, and applicable with respect to civil actions pending on or commenced on or after such date, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 96417, set out as a note under section 251 of this title.
Effective DateSection effective Oct. 1, 1970, see section 122 of Pub. L. 91271, set out as a note under section 256 of this title.
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
---
type: "LegalText"
title: "28 U.S.C. § 256"
description: "Trials at ports other than New York"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
chapter_number: "11"
chapter_name: "COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE"
section: "256"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 256"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc28@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s256"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-28/usc28.xml"
source_hash: "34741ac36b747f608aae36f09a293ef058ecc27e81ff793ffa31686a357eae71"
raw_snapshot_hash: "3390f867a2c02f5d0c496269da780795fe19663a090a3040c64a9ee0a541cdcf"
text_hash: "6cea2eb74ba26f686a9c400061ab69fe139e0e76173f81af596daee7c1396950"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---
# 28 U.S.C. § 256 - Trials at ports other than New York
## Text
(a) The chief judge may designate any judge or judges of the court to proceed, together with necessary assistants, to any port or to any place within the jurisdiction of the United States to preside at a trial or hearing at the port or place.
(b) Upon application of a party or upon his own initiative, and upon a showing that the interests of economy, efficiency, and justice will be served, the chief judge may issue an order authorizing a judge of the court to preside in an evidentiary hearing in a foreign country whose laws do not prohibit such a hearing: Provided, however, That an interlocutory appeal may be taken from such an order pursuant to the provisions of section 1292(d)(1) of this title, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit may, in its discretion, consider the appeal.
(Added Pub. L. 91271, title I, § 109, June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 277; amended Pub. L. 97164, title I, § 107, Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 28.)
## Notes
Editorial Notes
Amendments1982—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97164 substituted “section 1292(d)(1) of this title, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit may, in its discretion, consider the appeal” for “section 1541(b) of this title, subject to the discretion of the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals as set forth in that section”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1982 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97164 effective Oct. 1, 1982, see section 402 of Pub. L. 97164, set out as a note under section 171 of this title.
Effective DatePub. L. 91271, title I, § 122, June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 281, provided that: “(a) This title [see Short Title of 1970 Amendment note set out under section 1 of this title] shall become effective on October 1, 1970, and shall thereafter apply to all actions and proceedings in the Customs Court and the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals except those involving merchandise entered before the effective date for which trial has commenced by such effective date. “(b) An appeal for reappraisement timely filed with the Bureau of Customs before the effective date, but as to which trial has not commenced by such date, shall be deemed to have had a summons timely and properly filed under this title. When the judgment or order of the United States Customs Court has become final in this appeal, the papers shall be returned to the appropriate customs officer to decide any remaining matters relating to the entry in accordance with section 500 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended [section 1500 of Title 19, Customs Duties]. A protest or summons filed after final decision on an appeal for reappraisement shall not include issues which were raised or could have been raised on the appeal for reappraisement. “(c) A protest timely filed with the Bureau of Customs before the effective date of enactment of this Act [June 2, 1970], which is disallowed before that date, and as to which trial has not commenced by such date, shall be deemed to have had a summons timely and properly filed under this title. “(d) All other provisions of this Act [see Short Title notes set out under section 1 of this title and section 1500 of Title 19] shall apply to appeals and disallowed protests deemed to have had summonses timely and properly filed under this section.”
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
---
type: "LegalText"
title: "28 U.S.C. § 257"
description: "Publication of decisions"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
chapter_number: "11"
chapter_name: "COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE"
section: "257"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 257"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc28@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s257"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-28/usc28.xml"
source_hash: "7b8c335e666b0e37c028984d1c618576a316b6b6348cf47beee9fd50080d88e9"
raw_snapshot_hash: "3390f867a2c02f5d0c496269da780795fe19663a090a3040c64a9ee0a541cdcf"
text_hash: "4da9157a0e8429741daee5bdb157e8af8aa8e5b48174a7865b316aef0a4d708d"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---
# 28 U.S.C. § 257 - Publication of decisions
## Text
All decisions of the Court of International Trade shall be preserved and open to inspection. The court shall forward copies of each decision to the Secretary of the Treasury or his designee and to the appropriate customs officer for the district in which the case arose. The Secretary shall publish weekly such decisions as he or the court may designate and abstracts of all other decisions.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 900, § 255; renumbered § 257 and amended Pub. L. 91271, title I, § 107, June 2, 1970, 84 Stat. 277; Pub. L. 96417, title V, § 501(6), Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1742.)
## Notes
Historical and Revision NotesBased on section 1519 of title 19, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Customs Duties (June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 519, 46 Stat. 739). Changes in phraseology were made.
Editorial Notes
Amendments1980—Pub. L. 96417 redesignated the Customs Court as the Court of International Trade. 1970—Pub. L. 91271 inserted “or his designee” after “Secretary of the Treasury,” and substituted “to the appropriate customs officer” for “the collector”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96417 effective Nov. 1, 1980, and applicable with respect to civil actions pending on or commenced on or after such date, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 96417, set out as a note under section 251 of this title.
Effective Date of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91271 effective Oct. 1, 1970, see section 122 of Pub. L. 91271, set out as an Effective Date note under section 256 of this title.
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
---
type: "LegalText"
title: "28 U.S.C. § 258"
description: "Chief judges; precedence of judges"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
chapter_number: "11"
chapter_name: "COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE"
section: "258"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 258"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc28@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s258"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-28/usc28.xml"
source_hash: "c3686c999ad470acfda195513ed2af79496234e3086bf0ec486845d1eda72ae2"
raw_snapshot_hash: "3390f867a2c02f5d0c496269da780795fe19663a090a3040c64a9ee0a541cdcf"
text_hash: "96ec48156881054be8d3fedbd00e892e4a5a2eacea6084188f56cc2ad1ecc103"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---
# 28 U.S.C. § 258 - Chief judges; precedence of judges
## Text
(a) (1) The chief judge of the Court of International Trade shall be the judge of the court in regular active service who is senior in commission of those judges who—
(A) are 64 years of age or under;
(B) have served for 1 year or more as a judge of the court; and
(C) have not served previously as chief judge.
(2) (A) In any case in which no judge of the court meets the qualifications under paragraph (1), the youngest judge in regular active service who is 65 years of age or over and who has served as a judge of the court for 1 year or more shall act as the chief judge.
(B) In any case under subparagraph (A) in which there is no judge of the court in regular active service who has served as a judge of the court for 1 year or more, the judge of the court in regular active service who is senior in commission and who has not served previously as chief judge shall act as the chief judge.
(3) (A) Except as provided under subparagraph (C), the chief judge serving under paragraph (1) shall serve for a term of 7 years and shall serve after expiration of such term until another judge is eligible under paragraph (1) to serve as chief judge.
(B) Except as provided under subparagraph (C), a judge of the court acting as chief judge under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) shall serve until a judge meets the qualifications under paragraph (1).
(C) No judge of the court may serve or act as chief judge of the court after attaining the age of 70 years unless no other judge is qualified to serve as chief judge under paragraph (1) or is qualified to act as chief judge under paragraph (2).
(b) The chief judge shall have precedence and preside at any session of the court which such judge attends. Other judges of the court shall have precedence and preside according to the seniority of their commissions. Judges whose commissions bear the same date shall have precedence according to seniority in age.
(c) If the chief judge desires to be relieved of the duties as chief judge while retaining active status as a judge of the court, the chief judge may so certify to the Chief Justice of the United States, and thereafter the chief judge of the court shall be such other judge of the court who is qualified to serve or act as chief judge under subsection (a).
(d) If a chief judge is temporarily unable to perform the duties as such, such duties shall be performed by the judge of the court in active service, able and qualified to act, who is next in precedence.
(Added Pub. L. 104317, title V, § 501(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3855.)
## Notes
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Continuance of Position of Chief JudgePub. L. 104317, title V, § 501(c), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3856, provided that: “(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 258(a) of title 28, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this section), the chief judge of the United States Court of International Trade who is in office on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 19, 1996] shall continue to be such chief judge on or after such date until any one of the following events occurs:“(A) The chief judge is relieved of his duties under section 258(c) of title 28, United States Code. “(B) The regular active status of the chief judge is terminated. “(C) The chief judge attains the age of 70 years. “(D) The chief judge has served for a term of 7 years as chief judge. “(2) When the chief judge vacates the position of chief judge under paragraph (1), the position of chief judge of the Court of International Trade shall be filled in accordance with section 258(a) of title 28, United States Code.”