28 USC § 174 - Assignment of judges; decisions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s174"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "28 USC § 174 - Assignment of judges; decisions"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "174"
section_name: "Assignment of judges; decisions"
chapter_number: 7
chapter_name: "UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "ORGANIZATION OF COURTS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 898; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 105(a), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 27; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, § 902(a), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516.)"
---


# § 174. Assignment of judges; decisions

**(a)** The judicial power of the United States Court of Federal Claims with respect to any action, suit, or proceeding, except congressional reference cases, shall be exercised by a single judge, who may preside alone and hold a regular or special session of court at the same time other sessions are held by other judges.

**(b)** All decisions of the Court of Federal Claims shall be preserved and open to inspection.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 898; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 105(a), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 27; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, § 902(a), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 243 (, ).

This section is based on the first sentence of , U.S.C., 1940 ed. The remainder of said section is incorporated in .

Words “the seat of government” were substituted for “the city of Washington” to conform to similar language respecting the Supreme Court. (See .)

Words “to be fixed by rule of court” were added to provide greater flexibility in administering the business of the court. For similar provisions covering the district courts, see .

Word “term” was substituted for “session” for uniformity.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1992— substituted “United States Court of Federal Claims” for “United States Claims Court” in subsec. (a) and “Court of Federal Claims” for “Claims Court” in subsec. (b).

1982— amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to assignment of judges (formerly contained in section 175) for provisions relating to terms of court. See .

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under .