US Code

Public Law 119-87 (04/30/2026)

28 U.S.C. § 2284

Three-judge court; when required; composition; procedure

(a)
A district court of three judges shall be convened when otherwise required by Act of Congress, or when an action is filed challenging the constitutionality of the apportionment of congressional districts or the apportionment of any statewide legislative body.
(b)
In any action required to be heard and determined by a district court of three judges under subsection (a) of this section, the composition and procedure of the court shall be as follows:
(1)
Upon the filing of a request for three judges, the judge to whom the request is presented shall, unless he determines that three judges are not required, immediately notify the chief judge of the circuit, who shall designate two other judges, at least one of whom shall be a circuit judge. The judges so designated, and the judge to whom the request was presented, shall serve as members of the court to hear and determine the action or proceeding.
(2)
If the action is against a State, or officer or agency thereof, at least five days’ notice of hearing of the action shall be given by registered or certified mail to the Governor and attorney general of the State.
(3)
A single judge may conduct all proceedings except the trial, and enter all orders permitted by the rules of civil procedure except as provided in this subsection. He may grant a temporary restraining order on a specific finding, based on evidence submitted, that specified irreparable damage will result if the order is not granted, which order, unless previously revoked by the district judge, shall remain in force only until the hearing and determination by the district court of three judges of an application for a preliminary injunction. A single judge shall not appoint a master, or order a reference, or hear and determine any application for a preliminary or permanent injunction or motion to vacate such an injunction, or enter judgment on the merits. Any action of a single judge may be reviewed by the full court at any time before final judgment.

June 25, 1948, ch. 646 62 Stat. 968 Pub. L. 86–507, § 1(19)74 Stat. 201 Pub. L. 94–381, § 390 Stat. 1119 Pub. L. 98–620, title IV, § 402(29)(E)98 Stat. 3359 (, ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231 36 Stat. 1150 Mar. 4, 1943, ch. 160 37 Stat. 1013 Oct. 22, 1913, ch. 32 38 Stat. 220 Feb. 13, 1925, ch. 229, § 1 43 Stat. 938 Aug. 24, 1937, ch. 754, § 3 50 Stat. 752 Apr. 6, 1942, ch. 210, § 3 56 Stat. 199 Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 47, 47a, 380, 380a, and 792 (, §§ 210, 266, , 1162; , ; , ; , ; , ; , ).

section 1253 of this titleProvisions of sections 47, 47a, 380, and 380a of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., relating to the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction of direct appeals appear in .

Provisions of sections 47, 380, and 380a of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., requiring applications for injunctions restraining the enforcement, operation or execution of Federal or State statutes or orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission to be heard and determined by three-judge district courts appear in sections 2281, 2282, and 2325 of this title.

The provision for notice to the United States attorney for the district where the action is pending was added because of the necessity of the United States attorney’s preparation for hearing as soon as possible, to expedite such a case.

section 2101 of this titleProvisions of sections 47, 47a, 380, and 380a of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., respecting time for direct appeal appear in .

This revised section represents an effort to provide a uniform method of convoking three-judge district courts, and for procedure therein. It follows recommendations of a committee appointed by the Judicial Conference of the United States, composed of Circuit Judges Evan A. Evans, Kimbrough Stone, Orie L. Phillips, and Albert B. Maris.

section 380a of title 28The committee pointed out that , U.S.C., 1940 ed., is the latest and “most carefully drawn expression by Congress on the subject.” Consequently, this section follows closely such section 380a and eliminates the discrepancies between sections 47, 47a, 380, and 380a of such title.

section 28 of title 15section 44 of title 49This section governs only the composition and procedure of three-judge district courts. The requirement that applications for injunctions be heard and determined by such courts will appear in other sections of this and other titles of the United States Code as Congress may enact from time to time. For example, see sections 2281, 2282, and 2325 of this title, sections 1213, 1215, 1255 of title 11, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Bankruptcy, , U.S.C., 1940 ed., Commerce and Trade, and , U.S.C., 1940 ed., Transportation.

United States District Judge W. Calvin Chestnut, has referred to the provisions relating to enforcement or setting aside or orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission as unfortunately lengthy and prolix. He has urged revision to insure uniform procedure in the several classes of so-called three-judge cases.

The provision that such notice shall be given by the clerk by registered mail, and shall be complete on the mailing thereof follows, substantially, rules 4(d)(4) and 5(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The rules of civil procedure, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), are set out in the Appendix to this title.

Amendments

Pub. L. 98–6201984—Subsec. (b)(2). struck out provision that the hearing had to be given precedence and held at the earliest practicable day.

Pub. L. 94–3811976— substituted “Three-judge court; when required” for “Three-judge district court” in section catchline, and generally revised section to alter the method by which three-judge courts are composed, the procedure used by such courts, and to conform its requirements to the repeal of sections 2281 and 2282 of this title.

Pub. L. 86–5071960— substituted “by registered mail or by certified mail by the clerk and” for “by registered mail by the clerk, and”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–620section 403 of Pub. L. 98–620section 1657 of this titleAmendment by not applicable to cases pending on , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–381, § 790 Stat. 1120

section 2403 of this title“This Act [amending this section and and repealing sections 2281 and 2282 of this title] shall not apply to any action commenced on or before the date of enactment [].”
, , , provided that: