Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73
§393 Amendments of complaint and adjournments
Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 8— - SUMMARY TRIALS FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES AGAINST NAVIGATION LAWS › § 393
Summary
The court can allow the U.S. attorney to change the complaint at any time before a verdict, as long as the change does not unfairly hurt the defendant. If the defendant is not ready to meet the changed charge, the court must delay the case and set a new date so the defendant has time to prepare.
Full Legal Text
Title 33, §393
Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
It shall be lawful for the court to allow the United States attorney to amend his statement of complaint at any stage of the proceedings, before verdict, if, in the opinion of the court, such amendment will work no injustice to the accused; and if it appears to the court that the accused is unprepared to meet the charge as amended, and that an adjournment of the cause will promote the ends of justice, such adjournment shall be made, until a further day, to be fixed by the court.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 4302 derived from act June 11, 1864, ch. 121, § 6, 13 Stat. 125.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Act June 25, 1948, eff. Sept. 1, 1948, substituted “United States attorney” for “district attorney”. See section 541 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and
Historical and Revision Notes
set out thereunder.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
33 U.S.C. § 393
Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73