28 USC § 518 - Conduct and argument of cases

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s518"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "28 USC § 518 - Conduct and argument of cases"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "518"
section_name: "Conduct and argument of cases"
chapter_number: 31
chapter_name: "THE ATTORNEY GENERAL"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 89–554, § 4(c), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 613; amended Pub. L. 96–417, title V, § 503, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1743; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 117, Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 32; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, § 902(b)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516.)"
---


# § 518. Conduct and argument of cases

**(a)** Except when the Attorney General in a particular case directs otherwise, the Attorney General and the Solicitor General shall conduct and argue suits and appeals in the Supreme Court and suits in the United States Court of Federal Claims or in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and in the Court of International Trade in which the United States is interested.

**(b)** When the Attorney General considers it in the interests of the United States, he may personally conduct and argue any case in a court of the United States in which the United States is interested, or he may direct the Solicitor General or any officer of the Department of Justice to do so.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 89–554, § 4(c), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 613; amended Pub. L. 96–417, title V, § 503, Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1743; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 117, Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 32; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, § 902(b)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516.)

| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes andStatutes at Large |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 309. | R.S. § 359. |

The words “and writs of error” are omitted on authority of the , . The word “considers” is substituted for “deems”.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1992—Subsec. (a).  substituted “United States Court of Federal Claims” for “United States Claims Court”.

1982—Subsec. (a).  substituted “United States Claims Court or in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit” for “Court of Claims”.

1980—Subsec. (a).  required the Attorney General and the Solicitor General to conduct and argue suits in the Court of International Trade.

## 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 .

### Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , and applicable with respect to civil actions pending on or commenced on or after such date, see , set out as a note under .