Title 9, ArbitrationRelease 119-102
§205 Removal of Cases From State Courts
Title 9 › CHAPTER 2 — CONVENTION ON THE RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN ARBITRAL AWARDS › § 205
Summary
If a state court case involves an arbitration agreement or award under the Convention, defendants may move the case to the federal district court before trial. Normal removal rules apply, and a removed case counts as filed in that federal court under Chapter 1.
Full Legal Text
Title 9, §205
Arbitration, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Where the subject matter of an action or proceeding pending in a State court relates to an arbitration agreement or award falling under the Convention, the defendant or the defendants may, at any time before the trial thereof, remove such action or proceeding to the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place where the action or proceeding is pending. The procedure for removal of causes otherwise provided by law shall apply, except that the ground for removal provided in this section need not appear on the face of the complaint but may be shown in the petition for removal. For the purposes of Chapter 1 of this title any action or proceeding removed under this section shall be deemed to have been brought in the district court to which it is removed.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective upon the entry into force of the Convention on Recognition and
Enforcement
of Foreign Arbitral Awards with respect to the United States (Dec. 29, 1970), see section 4 of Pub. L. 91–368, set out as a note under section 201 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
9 U.S.C. § 205
Title 9, Arbitration
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102