United States Code

28 U.S.C. § 292

District judges

Statute Watch

Get an alert when any bill in Congress would change this law — and every time it moves.

Sign in to follow →

Bills that would change it 12

  • S 3020 Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 634 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2025 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 1878 Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 270 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2023 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 2968 Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act Amends · introduced · 117th Congress
  • HR 320 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2021 Amends · introduced · 117th Congress
  • S 722 Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act Amends · introduced · 116th Congress
  • HR 215 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2019 Amends · introduced · 116th Congress
  • S 295 Circuit Court of Appeals Restructuring and Modernization Act Amends · introduced · 115th Congress
  • HR 196 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2017 Amends · introduced · 115th Congress
  • HR 162 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2011 Amends · introduced · 112th Congress
  • HR 191 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2009 Amends · introduced · 111th Congress

The law today

From the official United States Code, current through Public Law 119-124.

(a) The chief judge of a circuit may designate and assign one or more district judges within the circuit to sit upon the court of appeals or a division thereof whenever the business of that court so requires. Such designations or assignments shall be in conformity with the rules or orders of the court of appeals of the circuit. (b) The chief judge of a circuit may, in the public interest, designate and assign temporarily any district judge of the circuit to hold a district court in any district within the circuit. (c) The chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit may, upon presentation of a certificate of necessity by the chief judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia pursuant to section 11–908(c) of the District of Columbia Code, designate and assign temporarily any district judge of the circuit to serve as a judge of such Superior Court, if such assignment (1) is approved by the Attorney General of the United States following a determination by him to the effect that such assignment is necessary to meet the ends of justice, and (2) is approved by the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. (d) The Chief Justice of the United States may designate and assign temporarily a district judge of one circuit for service in another circuit, either in a district court or court of appeals, upon presentation of a certificate of necessity by the chief judge or circuit justice of the circuit wherein the need arises. (e) The Chief Justice of the United States may designate and assign temporarily any district judge to serve as a judge of the Court of International Trade upon presentation to him of a certificate of necessity by the chief judge of the court.
Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗