§3231. District courts

The district courts of the United States shall have original jurisdiction, exclusive of the courts of the States, of all offenses against the laws of the United States.

Nothing in this title shall be held to take away or impair the jurisdiction of the courts of the several States under the laws thereof.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 826 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on section 588d of title 12, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Banks and Banking; title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§546, 547 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §§326, 340, 35 Stat. 1151 , 1153; Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, §291, 36 Stat. 1167 ; May 18, 1934, ch. 304, §4, 48 Stat. 783 ).

This section was formed by combining sections 546 and 547 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with section 588d of title 12, U.S.C., Banks and Banking, with no change of substance.

The language of said section 588d of title 12, U.S.C., 1940 ed., which related to bank robbery, or killing or kidnapping as an incident thereto (see section 2113, of this title), and which read "Jurisdiction over any offense defined by sections 588b and 588c of this title shall not be reserved exclusively to courts of the United States" was omitted as adequately covered by this section.

Senate Revision Amendment

The text of this section was changed by Senate amendment. See Senate Report No. 1620, amendment No. 10, 80th Cong.

Cross References

Civil jurisdiction of Federal courts, see section 1331 et seq. of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Exclusive jurisdiction of Federal courts, see sections 1251, 1333, 1334, 1338, 1351, 1355, 1356 of Title 28.

Jurisdiction of juvenile delinquents, see section 5033 of this title.

Jurisdiction over felonies in Yellowstone National Park, see section 131 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Refusal to appear or testify before court-martial military commission, etc., jurisdiction of offense, see section 847 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, see section 7 of this title.

United States commissioners, jurisdiction to try petty offenses, see section 3401 of this title.

Venue of civil actions, see section 1391 et seq. of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Wire or oral communications, authorization for interception, to provide evidence of certain Federal and State offenses, see section 2516 of this title.