Title 28 — Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-73
§2323 Duties of Attorney General; intervenors
Title 28 › Part PART VI— - PARTICULAR PROCEEDINGS › Chapter CHAPTER 157— - SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD ORDERS; ENFORCEMENT AND REVIEW › § 2323
Summary
The Attorney General must represent the United States in certain cases and in enforcement and civil-penalty cases under federal transportation law. The Surface Transportation Board and any party that had a stake in a Board proceeding where an order was made can join court cases about that order and be represented by a lawyer. Communities, groups, companies, and individuals affected may join the case after it starts. If they object, the Attorney General cannot end the case over their objection, and they can keep pursuing or defending the case on their own.
Full Legal Text
Title 28, §2323
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Attorney General shall represent the Government in the actions specified in section 2321 of this title and in enforcement actions and actions to collect civil penalties under subtitle IV of title 49. The Surface Transportation Board and any party or parties in interest to the proceeding before the Board, in which an order or requirement is made, may appear as parties of their own motion and as of right, and be represented by their counsel, in any action involving the validity of such order or requirement or any part thereof, and the interest of such party. Communities, associations, corporations, firms, and individuals interested in the controversy or question before the Board, or in any action commenced under the aforesaid sections may intervene in said action at any time after commencement thereof. The Attorney General shall not dispose of or discontinue said action or proceeding over the objection of such party or intervenor, who may prosecute, defend, or continue said action or proceeding unaffected by the action or nonaction of the Attorney General therein.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
1948 ActBased on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 45a (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, §§ 212, 213, 36 Stat. 1150, 1151; Oct. 22, 1913, ch. 32, 38 Stat. 220). The provision in the second sentence of section 45a of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., authorizing the Attorney General to employ and compensate special attorneys was omitted as covered by section 503 and 508 [now 543 and 548] of this title. The provision in the same sentence authorizing the court to make rules for the conduct and procedure of actions under this section were omitted as covered by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and section 2071 of this title relating to authority of district courts to promulgate local rules of procedure. The last paragraph of section 45a of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., was omitted as merely repetitive of the language immediately following the first proviso. Word “action” was substituted for “suit” in conformity with Rule 2 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Changes were made in phraseology. 1949 ActThis section corrects, in section 2323 of title 28, U.S.C., the reference to certain sections in title 49, U.S.C. The provisions which were formerly set out as section 49 of such title 49 are now set out as section 23 of such title.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1995—Pub. L. 104–88 substituted “Surface Transportation Board” for “Interstate Commerce Commission” and substituted “the Board” for “the Commission” in two places. 1978—Pub. L. 95–473 substituted “
Enforcement
actions and actions to collect civil penalties under subtitle IV of title 49” for “actions under section 20 of the Act of
February 4, 1887, as amended (24 Stat. 386; 49 U.S.C. 20), section 23 of the Act of
May 16, 1942, as amended (56 Stat. 301; 49 U.S.C. 23), and section 3 of the Act of
February 19, 1903, as amended (32 Stat. 848; 49 U.S.C. 43)” in first par. 1975—Pub. L. 93–584 struck out reference to the district courts and the Supreme Court of the United States upon appeal from the district courts as the courts in which the Attorney General can represent the United States in first par. 1949—Act
May 24, 1949, substituted “20, 23, and 43” for “20, 43, and 49” in first par.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1995 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–88 effective Jan. 1, 1996, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 1301 of Title 49, Transportation.
Effective Date
of 1975 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 93–584 not applicable to actions commenced on or before last day of first month beginning after Jan. 2, 1975, and actions to enjoin or suspend orders of Interstate Commerce Commission which are pending when this amendment becomes effective shall not be affected thereby, but shall proceed to final disposition under the law existing on the date they were commenced, see section 10 of Pub. L. 93–584, set out as a note under section 2321 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
28 U.S.C. § 2323
Title 28 — Judiciary and Judicial Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73