Notice: The uscode.house.gov website is currently operating in a temporary format. While the United States Code remains available from its authoritative source, some website features and functionality are temporarily unavailable.
The United States Code Online is current through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
Search & Browse Currency and Updating Classification Tables Popular Name Tool Positive Law Codification Editorial Reclassification Downloads
42 U.S.C. 2281: Contempt proceedingsText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 42-THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARECHAPTER 23-DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROL OF ATOMIC ENERGY

§2281. Contempt proceedings

In case of failure or refusal to obey a subpena served upon any person pursuant to section 2201(c) of this title, the district court for any district in which such person is found or resides or transacts business, upon application by the Attorney General on behalf of the United States, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and give testimony or to appear and produce documents, or both, in accordance with the subpena; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.

( Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724 , title I, § 233, formerly § 231, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1 , 68 Stat. 960 ; renumbered § 233, Aug. 6, 1956, ch. 1015, § 6 , 70 Stat. 1070 ; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8) , Oct. 24, 1992 , 106 Stat. 2944 .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to this section were contained in section 1816(d) of this title, prior to the general amendment and renumbering of act Aug. 1, 1946, by act Aug. 30, 1954.