28 U.S.C. § 1631 — Transfer to cure want of jurisdiction

Page 439 TITLE 28—JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE § 1651 § 1631. Transfer to cure want of jurisdiction Whenever a civil action is filed in a court as defined in section 610 of this title or an appeal, including a petition for review of administrative action, is noticed for or filed with such a court and that court finds that there is a want of ju- risdiction, the court shall, if it is in the interest of justice, transfer such action or appeal to any other such court (or, for cases within the juris- diction of the United States Tax Court, to that court) in which the action or appeal could have been brought at the time it was filed or noticed, and the action or appeal shall proceed as if it had been filed in or noticed for the court to which it is transferred on the date upon which it was actually filed in or noticed for the court from which it is transferred. (Added Pub. L. 97–164, title III, § 301(a), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 55; amended Pub. L. 115–332, § 2, Dec. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 4487.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2018—Pub. L. 115–332 inserted ‘‘(or, for cases within the jurisdiction of the United States Tax Court, to that court)’’ after ‘‘any other such court’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective Oct. 1, 1982, see section 402 of Pub. L. 97–164, set out as an Effective Date of 1982 Amend- ment note under section 171 of this title. PART V—PROCEDURE Chap. Sec. 111. General Provisions ............................. 1651 113. Process ................................................... 1691 114. Class Actions ........................................ 1711 115. Evidence; Documentary .................... 1731 117. Evidence; Depositions ........................ 1781 119. Evidence; Witnesses ........................... 1821 121 Juries; Trial by Jury .......................... 1861 123. Fees and Costs ..................................... 1911 125. Pending Actions and Judgments .... 1961 127. Executions and Judicial Sales ......... 2001 129. Moneys Paid into Court .................... 2041 131. Rules of Courts .................................... 2071 133. Review—Miscellaneous Provisions 2101 Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2005—Pub. L. 109–2, § 3(b), Feb. 18, 2005, 119 Stat. 9, added item for chapter 114. CHAPTER 111—GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec. 1651. Writs. 1652. State laws as rules of decision. 1653. Amendment of pleadings to show jurisdiction. 1654. Appearance personally or by counsel. 1655. Lien enforcement; absent defendants. 1656. Creation of new district or division or trans- fer of territory; lien enforcement. 1657. Priority of civil actions. 1658. Time limitations on the commencement of civil actions arising under Acts of Congress. 1659. Stay of certain actions pending disposition of related proceedings before the United States International Trade Commission. Sec. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1994—Pub. L. 103–465, title III, § 321(b)(1)(B), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4946, added item 1659. 1990—Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 313(b), Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5115, added item 1658. 1984—Pub. L. 98–620, title IV, § 401(b), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3357, added item 1657. § 1651. Writs (a) The Supreme Court and all courts estab- lished by Act of Congress may issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of their respec- tive jurisdictions and agreeable to the usages and principles of law. (b) An alternative writ or rule nisi may be issued by a justice or judge of a court which has jurisdiction. (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 944; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 90, 63 Stat. 102.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES 1948 ACT Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 342, 376, 377 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, §§ 234, 261, 262, 36 Stat. 1156, 1162). Section consolidates sections 342, 376, and 377 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with necessary changes in phrase- ology. Such section 342 provided: ‘‘The Supreme Court shall have power to issue writs of prohibition to the district courts, when proceeding as courts of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; and writs of mandamus, in cases warranted by the prin- ciples and usages of law, to any courts appointed under the authority of the United States, or to persons hold- ing office under the authority of the United States, where a State, or an ambassador, or other public min- ister, or a consul, or vice consul is a party.’’ Such section 376 provided: ‘‘Writs of ne exeat may be granted by any justice of the Supreme Court, in cases where they might be granted by the Supreme Court; and by any district judge, in cases where they might be granted by the dis- trict court of which he is a judge. But no writ of ne exeat shall be granted unless a suit in equity is com- menced, and satisfactory proof is made to the court or judge granting the same that the defendant designs quickly to depart from the United States.’’ Such section 377 provided: ‘‘The Supreme Court and the district courts shall have power to issue writs of scire facias. The Supreme Court, the circuit courts of appeals, and the district courts shall have power to issue all writs not specifi- cally provided for by statute, which may be necessary for the exercise of their respective jurisdictions, and agreeable to the usages and principles of law.’’ The special provisions of section 342 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with reference to writs of prohibition and mandamus, admiralty courts and other courts and officers of the United States were omitted as unneces- sary in view of the revised section. The revised section extends the power to issue writs in aid of jurisdiction, to all courts established by Act of Congress, thus making explicit the right to exercise powers implied from the creation of such courts. The provisions of section 376 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with respect to the powers of a justice or judge in issuing writs of ne exeat were changed and made the basis of subsection (b) of the revised section but the conditions and limitations on the writ of ne exeat were omitted as merely confirmatory of well-settled prin- ciples of law. The provision in section 377 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., authorizing issuance of writs of scire facias, was omitted in view of rule 81(b) of the Federal Rules of