Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§291 Purchase of claims for fees by court officials
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 15— - CLAIMS AND SERVICES IN MATTERS AFFECTING GOVERNMENT › § 291
Summary
Certain federal judges, clerks, prosecutors, marshals, magistrates, and officials must not buy any U.S. claim for fees, travel, or expenses of witnesses, jurors, deputy marshals, or officers for less than full value. Violators face a federal fine.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §291
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, being a judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of any court of the United States or a Territory or Possession thereof, or a United States district attorney, assistant attorney, marshal, deputy marshal, magistrate judge, or other person holding any office or employment, or position of trust or profit under the United States, directly or indirectly purchases at less than the full face value thereof, any claim against the United States for the fee, mileage, or expenses of any witness, juror, deputy marshal, or any other officer of such court, shall be fined under this title.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 193 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 104, 35 Stat. 1107). Word “Possession” was inserted to clarify scope of section. Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Words “magistrate judge” substituted for “magistrate” in text pursuant to section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as a note under section 631 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. Previously, “magistrate” substituted for “commissioner” pursuant to Pub. L. 90–578. See chapter 43 (§ 631 et seq.) of Title 28.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 291
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73