Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§2000b Civil Actions by the Attorney General

Title 42 › CHAPTER 21 — CIVIL RIGHTS › SUBCHAPTER III — PUBLIC FACILITIES › § 2000b

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General can bring a federal civil lawsuit in the name of the United States when someone gives a signed written complaint saying they are being denied equal use of a state or local public facility (not including public schools or public colleges) because of their race, color, religion, or national origin. If the Attorney General thinks the complaint is valid and certifies that the complainant cannot start or keep a proper lawsuit and that filing suit will help end segregation in public facilities, he may sue in any federal district court and ask for the relief needed. He may also add other defendants if that is needed to fix the problem. The Attorney General may decide a person cannot start or keep a suit if they cannot afford the cost or a lawyer, or if suing would threaten their safety, job, money, family, or property.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §2000b

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Complaint; certification; institution of civil action; relief requested; jurisdiction; impleading additional parties as defendants

Whenever the Attorney General receives a complaint in writing signed by an individual to the effect that he is being deprived of or threatened with the loss of his right to the equal protection of the laws, on account of his race, color, religion, or national origin, by being denied equal utilization of any public facility which is owned, operated, or managed by or on behalf of any State or subdivision thereof, other than a public school or public college as defined in section 2000c of this title, and the Attorney General believes the complaint is meritorious and certifies that the signer or signers of such complaint are unable, in his judgment, to initiate and maintain appropriate legal proceedings for relief and that the institution of an action will materially further the orderly progress of desegregation in public facilities, the Attorney General is authorized to institute for or in the name of the United States a civil action in any appropriate district court of the United States against such parties and for such relief as may be appropriate, and such court shall have and shall exercise jurisdiction of proceedings instituted pursuant to this section. The Attorney General may implead as defendants such additional parties as are or become necessary to the grant of effective relief hereunder.

(b)Persons unable to initiate and maintain legal proceedings

The Attorney General may deem a person or persons unable to initiate and maintain appropriate legal proceedings within the meaning of subsection (a) of this section when such person or persons are unable, either directly or through other interested persons or organizations, to bear the expense of the litigation or to obtain effective legal representation; or whenever he is satisfied that the institution of such litigation would jeopardize the personal safety, employment, or economic standing of such person or persons, their families, or their property.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 2000b

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110