Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102
§2000a–6 Jurisdiction; Exhaustion of Other Remedies; Exclusiveness of Remedies; Assertion of Rights Based on Other Federal or State Laws and Pursuit of Remedies for Enforcement of Such Rights
Title 42 › CHAPTER 21 — CIVIL RIGHTS › SUBCHAPTER II — PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS › § 2000a–6
Summary
Federal district courts must hear lawsuits brought under this law, even if the person harmed did not first try other agency or administrative steps. The ways to fix a violation under this law are the only remedies for claims under it, but people or state or local agencies can still use other federal or state laws that don’t conflict—such as rules against discrimination in public places—and seek any civil or criminal relief those laws allow.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §2000a–6
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction of proceedings instituted pursuant to this subchapter and shall exercise the same without regard to whether the aggrieved party shall have exhausted any administrative or other remedies that may be provided by law.
(b)The remedies provided in this subchapter shall be the exclusive means of enforcing the rights based on this subchapter, but nothing in this subchapter shall preclude any individual or any State or local agency from asserting any right based on any other Federal or State law not inconsistent with this subchapter, including any statute or ordinance requiring nondiscrimination in public establishments or accommodations, or from pursuing any remedy, civil or criminal, which may be available for the vindication or enforcement of such right.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 2000a–6
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102