Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-110
§1908 Legal Representation Authority
Title 2 › CHAPTER 29 — CAPITOL POLICE › SUBCHAPTER I — ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION › Part A — General › § 1908
Summary
Lets certain Capitol Police lawyers appear in any state or federal court for the Capitol Police without having to follow that court’s usual admission rules. The lawyers covered include the General Counsel, the Employment Counsel, attorneys who work in those offices or their successor offices, and lawyers hired by contract. Such appearances must follow directions from the Capitol Police Board. This does not let them practice before the United States Supreme Court. The rule applies starting in fiscal year 2004 and every fiscal year after.
Full Legal Text
Title 2, §1908
The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In general
(1)Authorization of representation
Any counsel described under paragraph (2) may for the purposes of providing legal assistance and representation to the United States Capitol Police Board or the United States Capitol Police enter an appearance in any proceeding before any court of the United States or of any State or political subdivision thereof, without compliance with any requirement for admission to practice before such court.
(2)Counsel
Paragraph (1) refers to—
(A)the General Counsel to the Chief of Police and the United States Capitol Police;
(B)the Employment Counsel to the Chief of Police and the United States Capitol Police;
(C)any attorney employed in the Office of the General Counsel for the United States Capitol Police or the Office of Employment Counsel for the United States Capitol Police;
(D)the counsel for, or any attorney employed by, any successor office of either office described under subparagraph (C); and
(E)any attorney retained by contract with either office described under subparagraph (C).
(b)Limitations
(1)Direction for appearance
Entrance of appearance authorized under subsection (a) shall be subject to the direction of the Capitol Police Board.
(2)United States Supreme Court
The authority under subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to the admission of any person to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
(c)Effective date
This section shall apply to fiscal year 2004, and each fiscal year thereafter.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section is from the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2004.
Amendments
2010—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 111–145, § 3(b)(1), substituted “the General Counsel to the Chief of Police and the United States Capitol Police” for “the General Counsel for the United States Capitol Police Board and the Chief of the Capitol Police”. Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 111–145, § 4(a)(1), substituted “the Employment Counsel to the Chief of Police and the United States Capitol Police” for “the Employment Counsel for the United States Capitol Police Board and the United States Capitol Police”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Construction
of 2010 Amendment Pub. L. 111–145, § 3(b)(2), Mar. 4, 2010, 124 Stat. 52, provided that: “Nothing in the amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] may be construed to affect the authority of any individual to enter an appearance in any proceeding before any court of the United States or of any State or political subdivision thereof which is initiated prior to the date of the enactment of this Act [Mar. 4, 2010].” Pub. L. 111–145, § 4(a)(2), Mar. 4, 2010, 124 Stat. 52, provided that: “Nothing in the amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] may be construed to affect the authority of any individual to enter an appearance in any proceeding before any court of the United States or of any State or political subdivision thereof which is initiated prior to the date of the enactment of this Act [Mar. 4, 2010].” Pub. L. 111–145, § 4(b), Mar. 4, 2010, 124 Stat. 52, provided that: “Nothing in this section [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as a note above] or the
Amendments
made by this section may be construed to affect the status of the individual serving as the Employment Counsel to the Chief of Police and the United States Capitol Police as of the date of the enactment of this Act [Mar. 4, 2010].”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
2 U.S.C. § 1908
Title 2, The Congress
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110