Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§1509 Obstruction of Court Orders
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 73 — OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE › § 1509
Summary
Using threats or force to stop or try to stop someone from following a U.S. court’s order, judgment, or decree is a crime. It can be punished by a fine or by up to one year in jail, or both, and courts may still grant injunctions or other civil relief.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1509
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, by threats or force, willfully prevents, obstructs, impedes, or interferes with, or willfully attempts to prevent, obstruct, impede, or interfere with, the due exercise of rights or the performance of duties under any order, judgment, or decree of a court of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. No injunctive or other civil relief against the conduct made criminal by this section shall be denied on the ground that such conduct is a crime.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” in first par.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1509
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102