Title 28Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-73

§2402 Jury trial in actions against United States

Title 28 › Part PART VI— - PARTICULAR PROCEEDINGS › Chapter CHAPTER 161— - UNITED STATES AS PARTY GENERALLY › § 2402

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Suits against United States are judge trials unless chapter 179 says otherwise; one claim type allows a jury.

Full Legal Text

Title 28, §2402

Judiciary and Judicial Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Subject to chapter 179 of this title, any action against the United States under section 1346 shall be tried by the court without a jury, except that any action against the United States under section 1346(a)(1) shall, at the request of either party to such action, be tried by the court with a jury.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 41(20), 931(a) (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 24, par. 20, 36 Stat. 1093; Nov. 23, 1921, ch. 136, § 1310(c), 42 Stat. 311; June 2, 1924, 4:01 p.m., ch. 234, § 1025(c), 43 Stat. 348; Feb. 24, 1925, ch. 309, 43 Stat. 972; Feb. 26, 1926, ch. 27, §§ 1122(c), 1200, 44 Stat. 121, 125; Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753, § 410(a), 60 Stat. 843). Section consolidates non-jury provisions of section 41(20) and 931(a) of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed. For other provisions of said section 931(a) relating to tort claims, see Distribution Table. Word “actions” was substituted for “suits”, in view of Rule 2 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Provisions of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 41(20) relating to jurisdiction of district courts and time for bringing actions against the United States are the basis of section 1346 and 2401 of this title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–331 substituted “Subject to chapter 179 of this title, any action” for “Any action”. 1954—Act July 30, 1954, permitted a jury trial at the request of either party in actions under section 1346(a)(1) of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–331 effective Oct. 1, 1997, see section 3(d) of Pub. L. 104–331, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 1296 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

28 U.S.C. § 2402

Title 28Judiciary and Judicial Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73