Title 28Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-73

§798 Places of holding court; appointment of special masters

Title 28 › Part PART III— - COURT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES › Chapter CHAPTER 51— - UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS › § 798

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Court of Federal Claims may hold court in Washington, D.C., and anywhere in the U.S., including territories, under sections 173 and 2503(c). Federal or GSA facilities must be available outside D.C. If it promotes economy, efficiency, or justice, the chief judge may allow proceedings in a foreign country if its laws permit; a temporary appeal may be taken under section 1292(d)(2). The chief judge may appoint special masters paid under the court’s rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 28, §798

Judiciary and Judicial Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The United States Court of Federal Claims is authorized to use facilities and hold court in Washington, District of Columbia, and throughout the United States (including its territories and possessions) as necessary for compliance with section 173 and 2503(c) of this title. The facilities of the Federal courts, as well as other comparable facilities administered by the General Services Administration, shall be made available for trials and other proceedings outside of the District of Columbia.
(b)Upon application of a party or upon the judge’s own initiative, and upon a showing that the interests of economy, efficiency, and justice will be served, the chief judge of the Court of Federal Claims may issue an order authorizing a judge of the court to conduct proceedings, including evidentiary hearings and trials, in a foreign country whose laws do not prohibit such proceedings, except that an interlocutory appeal may be taken from such an order pursuant to section 1292(d)(2) of this title, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit may, in its discretion, consider the appeal.
(c)The chief judge of the Court of Federal Claims may appoint special masters to assist the court in carrying out its functions. Any special masters so appointed shall carry out their responsibilities and be compensated in accordance with procedures set forth in the rules of the court.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–572, § 906(a), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “The United States Claims Court is hereby authorized to utilize facilities and hold court in Washington, District of Columbia, and in four locations outside of the Washington, District of Columbia metropolitan area, for the purpose of conducting trials and such other proceedings as may be appropriate to executing the court’s functions. The Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall designate such locations and provide for such facilities.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–572, § 906(b)(2), added subsec. (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (c). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–572, §§ 902(a)(2), 906(b)(1), redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c) and substituted “Court of Federal Claims” for “Claims Court”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1992 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 102–572 effective Oct. 29, 1992, see section 911 of Pub. L. 102–572, set out as a note under section 171 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

28 U.S.C. § 798

Title 28Judiciary and Judicial Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73