Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102
§2000h–2 Intervention by Attorney General; Denial of Equal Protection on Account of Race, Color, Religion, Sex or National Origin
Title 42 › CHAPTER 21 — CIVIL RIGHTS › SUBCHAPTER IX — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 2000h–2
Summary
When a federal lawsuit says someone was denied Fourteenth Amendment equal protection because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, the Attorney General may join the case and seek the same relief the United States could get if it had started the lawsuit.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §2000h–2
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whenever an action has been commenced in any court of the United States seeking relief from the denial of equal protection of the laws under the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution on account of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, the Attorney General for or in the name of the United States may intervene in such action upon timely application if the Attorney General certifies that the case is of general public importance. In such action the United States shall be entitled to the same relief as if it had instituted the action.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1972—Pub. L. 92–318 inserted “sex” after “religion,”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 2000h–2
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102