Title 18Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§3432 Indictment and list of jurors and witnesses for prisoner in capital cases

Title 18 › Part PART II— - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE › Chapter CHAPTER 221— - ARRAIGNMENT, PLEAS AND TRIAL › § 3432

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If someone is charged with treason or another capital offense, they must be given the indictment and, at least three entire days before trial (not counting weekends and holidays), a list of potential jurors and the witnesses with where each lives. The court can refuse to give those lists if it finds, by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not), that giving them would put anyone’s life or safety at risk.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §3432

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

A person charged with treason or other capital offense shall at least three entire days before commencement of trial, excluding intermediate weekends and holidays, be furnished with a copy of the indictment and a list of the veniremen, and of the witnesses to be produced on the trial for proving the indictment, stating the place of abode of each venireman and witness, except that such list of the veniremen and witnesses need not be furnished if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that providing the list may jeopardize the life or safety of any person.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 562 (R.S. § 1033). Words “or other capital offense” inserted after “treason” and “jurors” substituted for “jury”. The concluding sentence “When any person is indicted for any other capital offense, such copy of the indictment and list of the jurors and witnesses shall be delivered to him at least two entire days before the trial” was omitted. The change made by the revisers, permitting an additional day’s preparation for trial in homicide, kidnapping, rape, and other capital cases seemed not unreasonable. Words “shall be delivered to him”, at end of section, were omitted as unnecessary. Rule 10 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure requires that the defendant in every case be given a copy of the indictment or information before he is called upon to plead. Thus there is no conflict between the rule and the revised section. Minor changes in phraseology were made.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2009—Pub. L. 111–16 inserted “, excluding intermediate weekends and holidays,” after “commencement of trial”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 inserted before period at end “, except that such list of the veniremen and witnesses need not be furnished if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that providing the list may jeopardize the life or safety of any person”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2009 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–16 effective Dec. 1, 2009, see section 7 of Pub. L. 111–16, set out as a note under section 109 of Title 11, Bankruptcy.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 3432

Title 18Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73