Assault on process server
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever knowingly and obstructs, resists, or opposes any officer of the United States, or other person duly authorized, in serving, or attempting to serve or execute, any legal or judicial writ or process of any court of the United States, or United States magistrate judge; or
Whoever assaults, beats, or wounds any officer or other person duly authorized, knowing him to be such officer, or other person so duly authorized, in serving or executing any such writ, rule, order, process, warrant, or other legal or judicial writ or process—
Shall, except as otherwise provided by law, be or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 769 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 90–578, title IV, §402(b)(2), Oct. 17, 1968, 82 Stat. 1118 (PDF, 2.3 MB); Pub. L. 101–650, title III, §321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117 (PDF, 7.4 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(F), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to knowingly and willfully block, resist, or oppose a federal officer or other authorized person who is serving court papers or carrying out a court order or warrant. Assaulting or injuring such a person, knowing who they are, is also a crime.