§505. Seals of courts; signatures of judges or court officers

Whoever forges the signature of any judge, register, or other officer of any court of the United States, or of any Territory thereof, or forges or counterfeits the seal of any such court, or knowingly concurs in using any such forged or counterfeit signature or seal, for the purpose of authenticating any proceeding or document, or tenders in evidence any such proceeding or document with a false or counterfeit signature of any such judge, register, or other officer, or a false or counterfeit seal of the court, subscribed or attached thereto, knowing such signature or seal to be false or counterfeit, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 714 ; Sept. 13, 1994, Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), 108 Stat. 2147 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §236 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §130, 35 Stat. 1112 ).

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Minor changes of phraseology were made.

Amendments

1994-Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000".

Canal Zone

Applicability of section to Canal Zone, see section 14 of this title.

Cross References

Jurisdiction of offenses, see section 3241 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 14 of this title.