Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§6003 Court and Grand Jury Proceedings
Title 18 › PART V — IMMUNITY OF WITNESSES › CHAPTER 601 — IMMUNITY OF WITNESSES › § 6003
Summary
A federal district court must order a person to testify or provide information if the U.S. attorney for that district asks and the order becomes effective under section 6002. The U.S. attorney can only ask with approval from senior Justice Department officials and only when the testimony is needed for the public interest and the person has refused or likely will refuse because it could incriminate them.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §6003
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In the case of any individual who has been or may be called to testify or provide other information at any proceeding before or ancillary to a court of the United States or a grand jury of the United States, the United States district court for the judicial district in which the proceeding is or may be held shall issue, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, upon the request of the United States attorney for such district, an order requiring such individual to give testimony or provide other information which he refuses to give or provide on the basis of his privilege against self-incrimination, such order to become effective as provided in section 6002 of this title.
(b)A United States attorney may, with the approval of the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, the Associate Attorney General, or any designated Assistant Attorney General or Deputy Assistant Attorney General, request an order under subsection (a) of this section when in his judgment—
(1)the testimony or other information from such individual may be necessary to the public interest; and
(2)such individual has refused or is likely to refuse to testify or provide other information on the basis of his privilege against self-incrimination.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “title” for “part” before period at end. 1988—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–690 inserted “, the Associate Attorney General” after “Deputy Attorney General”, and “or Deputy Assistant Attorney General” after “Assistant Attorney General”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 6003
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102