22 U.S.C. § 258a: Enforcement of awards of…

Summary

U.S. district courts and magistrate judges can enforce decisions, awards, or rulings made by a foreign consul, vice consul, or commercial agent when that person acted as a judge or arbitrator in disputes between captains and crews of that country’s ships. The consul must first file a petition asking the court to act. The court can order remedies, including holding people in a local jail until the decision is obeyed or until the consul or the foreign government in writing releases them. The foreign government, or the consul who asked for the imprisonment, must pay the jail and court costs. U.S. marshals must serve the orders and do what is needed to carry them out.

Title 22, §258a

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The district courts and the United States magistrate judges shall have power to carry into effect, according to the true intent and meaning thereof, the award or arbitration or decree of any consul, vice consul or commercial agent of any foreign nation, made or rendered by virtue of authority conferred on him as such consul, vice consul, or commercial agent, to sit as judge or arbitrator in such differences as may arise between the captains and crews of the vessels belonging to the nation whose interests are committed to his charge, application for the exercise of such power being first made to such court or magistrate judge, by petition of such consul, vice consul, or commercial agent. And said courts and magistrate judges may issue all proper remedial process, mesne and final, to carry into full effect such award, arbitration, or decree, and to enforce obedience thereto by imprisonment in the jail or other place of confinement in the district in which the United States may lawfully imprison any person arrested under the authority of the United States, until such award, arbitration or decree is complied with, or the parties are otherwise discharged therefrom, by the consent in writing of such consul, vice consul, or commercial agent, or his successor in office, or by the authority of the foreign government appointing such consul, vice consul, or commercial agent. The expenses of the said imprisonment and maintenance of the prisoners, and the cost of the proceedings, shall be borne by such foreign government, or by its consul, vice consul, or commercial agent requiring such imprisonment. The marshals of the United States shall serve all such process, and do all other acts necessary and proper to carry into effect the premises, under the authority of the said courts and magistrate judges.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 393 of Title 28 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, by act June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 1, 62 Stat. 869.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“United States magistrate judges”, “magistrate judge”, and “magistrate judges” substituted in text for “United States magistrates”, “magistrate”, and “magistrates”, respectively, pursuant to section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as a note under section 631 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. Previously, “magistrate” substituted for “commissioner” pursuant to Pub. L. 90–578. See chapter 43 (§ 631 et seq.) of Title 28.

§258a Enforcement of Awards of Foreign Consuls