18 USC § 1509 - Obstruction of court orders

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1509"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1509 - Obstruction of court orders"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1509"
section_name: "Obstruction of court orders"
chapter_number: 73
chapter_name: "OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 86–449, title I, § 101, May 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 86; amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 1509. Obstruction of court orders

Whoever, by threats or force, willfully prevents, obstructs, impedes, or interferes with, or willfully attempts to prevent, obstruct, impede, or interfere with, the due exercise of rights or the performance of duties under any order, judgment, or decree of a court of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

No injunctive or other civil relief against the conduct made criminal by this section shall be denied on the ground that such conduct is a crime.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 86–449, title I, § 101, May 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 86; amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” in first par.