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Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60

§6003 Court and Grand Jury Proceedings

Title 18 › Part V— IMMUNITY OF WITNESSES › Chapter 601— IMMUNITY OF WITNESSES › § 6003

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

If someone is or might be called to testify in a U.S. court or before a federal grand jury and they refuse to answer because they say doing so could incriminate them, the U.S. district court where the matter is or may be heard must order that person to testify or give the information when the U.S. attorney for that district asks. The order becomes effective as set out in section 6002 of this title. A U.S. attorney may make that request only after getting approval from the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, the Associate Attorney General, or a designated Assistant or Deputy Assistant Attorney General. The attorney must believe the testimony or information may be needed for the public interest and that the person has refused or probably will refuse to answer because of their right not to incriminate themselves.

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

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60