Purchase of claims for fees by court officials
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, being a judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of any court of the United States or a Territory or Possession thereof, or a United States district attorney, assistant attorney, marshal, deputy marshal, magistrate judge, or other person holding any office or employment, or position of trust or profit under the United States, directly or indirectly purchases at less than the full face value thereof, any claim against the United States for the fee, mileage, or expenses of any witness, juror, deputy marshal, or any other officer of such court, shall be .
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 699 (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)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime for a federal judge, court clerk, U.S. attorney, marshal, magistrate judge, or other federal official to buy, for less than full value, a claim against the U.S. for the fees, mileage, or expenses owed to a witness, juror, or court officer. This stops officials from profiting by buying these payments at a discount.