republic-os/legal/us/code/title-42/chapter-21/section-1988.md

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LegalText	42 U.S.C. § 1988	Proceedings in vindication of civil rights	us	united_states_code	code_section	42	THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE	21	CIVIL RIGHTS	1988	42 U.S.C. § 1988	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t42/s1988	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml	8cbc4ce86b58beb2eb5745af412e28e84a74b1dc396d3236f5044c176b055b3c	644321055a08eb1f260a6a3e31ac157fa024756abf612a9fd6857e7e400cf24e	9fa812280fad3788831b17de8f917c0ea7adb9ecddef63bf510260f71c8fa0f0	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

42 U.S.C. § 1988 - Proceedings in vindication of civil rights

Text

(a) Applicability of statutory and common law The jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters conferred on the district courts by the provisions of titles 13, 24, and 70 of the Revised Statutes for the protection of all persons in the United States in their civil rights, and for their vindication, shall be exercised and enforced in conformity with the laws of the United States, so far as such laws are suitable to carry the same into effect; but in all cases where they are not adapted to the object, or are deficient in the provisions necessary to furnish suitable remedies and punish offenses against law, the common law, as modified and changed by the constitution and statutes of the State wherein the court having jurisdiction of such civil or criminal cause is held, so far as the same is not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States, shall be extended to and govern the said courts in the trial and disposition of the cause, and, if it is of a criminal nature, in the infliction of punishment on the party found guilty.

(b) Attorney’s fees In any action or proceeding to enforce a provision of sections 1981, 1981a, 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1986 of this title, title IX of Public Law 92–318 [20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.], the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 [42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.], the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 [42 U.S.C. 2000cc et seq.], title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.], or section 12361 of title 34, the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorney’s fee as part of the costs, except that in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or omission taken in such officer’s judicial capacity such officer shall not be held liable for any costs, including attorney’s fees, unless such action was clearly in excess of such officer’s jurisdiction.

(c) Expert fees In awarding an attorney’s fee under subsection (b) in any action or proceeding to enforce a provision of section 1981 or 1981a of this title, the court, in its discretion, may include expert fees as part of the attorney’s fee.

(R.S. § 722; Pub. L. 94–559, § 2, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2641; Pub. L. 96–481, title II, § 205(c), Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2330; Pub. L. 102–166, title I, §§ 103, 113(a), Nov. 21, 1991, 105 Stat. 1074, 1079; Pub. L. 103–141, § 4(a), Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1489; Pub. L. 103–322, title IV, § 40303, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1942; Pub. L. 104–317, title III, § 309(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3853; Pub. L. 106–274, § 4(d), Sept. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 804.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

References in TextTitle 13 of the Revised Statutes, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Title” meaning title 13 of the Revised Statutes, consisting of R.S. §§ 530 to 1093. For complete classification of R.S. §§ 530 to 1093 to the Code, see Tables. Title 24 of the Revised Statutes, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “Title ‘Civil Rights,’ ” meaning title 24 of the Revised Statutes, consisting of R.S. §§ 1977 to 1991, which are classified to sections 1981 to 1983, 1985 to 1987, and 1989 to 1994 of this title. For complete classification of R.S. §§ 1977 to 1991 to the Code, see Tables. Title 70 of the Revised Statutes, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “Title ‘Crimes,’ ” meaning title 70 of the Revised Statutes, consisting of R.S. §§ 5323 to 5550. For complete classification of R.S. §§ 5323 to 5550, see Tables. Title IX of Public Law 92–318, referred to in subsec. (b), is title IX of Pub. L. 92–318, June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 373, known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, which is classified principally to chapter 38 (§ 1681 et seq.) of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of title IX to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1681 of Title 20 and Tables. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 103–141, Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1488, which is classified principally to chapter 21B (§ 2000bb et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2000bb of this title and Tables. The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 106–274, Sept. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 803, which is classified principally to chapter 21C (§ 2000cc et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2000cc of this title and Tables. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 88–352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 2000d et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2000a of this title and Tables.

Codification R.S. § 722 derived from acts Apr. 9, 1866, ch. 31, § 3, 14 Stat. 27; May 31, 1870, ch. 114, § 18, 16 Stat. 144. Section was formerly classified to section 729 of Title 28 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, by act June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 1, 62 Stat. 869.

Amendments2000—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–274 inserted “the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000,” after “Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993,” and deleted comma after “section 13981 of this title,”. 1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–317 inserted before period at end “, except that in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or omission taken in such officer’s judicial capacity such officer shall not be held liable for any costs, including attorney’s fees, unless such action was clearly in excess of such officer’s jurisdiction”. 1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322, which directed the amendment of the last sentence of this section by striking “or” after “92–318,” and by inserting “, or section 13981 of this title,” after “1964”, was executed to subsec. (b) of this section by striking “or” after “Act of 1993,” and by inserting “, or section 13981 of this title,” after “1964”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress and amendments by Pub. L. 102–166 and Pub. L. 103–141. See 1993 and 1991 Amendment notes below. 1993—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–141 inserted “the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993,” before “or title VI”. 1991—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–166, § 113(a)(1), designated first sentence of existing provisions as subsec. (a). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–166, §§ 103, 113(a)(1), designated second sentence of existing provisions as subsec. (b) and inserted “1981a,” after “1981,”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–166, § 113(a)(2), added subsec. (c). 1980—Pub. L. 96–481 struck out “or in any civil action or proceeding, by or on behalf of the United States of America, to enforce, or charging a violation of, a provision of the United States Internal Revenue Code,”. 1976—Pub. L. 94–559 authorized the court, in its discretion, to allow a reasonable attorney’s fee as part of the prevailing party’s costs.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1991 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 102–166 effective Nov. 21, 1991, except as otherwise provided, see section 402 of Pub. L. 102–166, set out as a note under section 1981 of this title.

Effective Date of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–481 effective Oct. 1, 1981, and applicable to adversary adjudication as defined in section 504(b)(1)(C) of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and to civil actions and adversary adjudications described in section 2412 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, which are pending on, or commenced on or after Oct. 1, 1981, see section 208 of Pub. L. 96–481, set out as an Effective Date note under section 2412 of Title 28.

Short Title of 1976 AmendmentPub. L. 94–559, § 1, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2641, provided: “That this Act [amending this section] may be cited as ‘The Civil Rights Attorney’s Fees Awards Act of 1976’.”