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Code · U.S. Code · Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE · CHAPTER 235— APPEAL · § 3731

§ 3731. Appeal by United States

1,341 words·~6 min read·/usc/title-18/section-3731

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In a criminal case an appeal by the United States shall lie to a court of appeals from a decision, judgment, or order of a district court dismissing an indictment or information or granting a new trial after verdict or judgment, as to any one or more counts, or any part thereof, except that no appeal shall lie where the double jeopardy clause of the United States Constitution prohibits further prosecution.
An appeal by the United States shall lie to a court of appeals from a decision or order of a district court suppressing or excluding evidence or requiring the return of seized property in a criminal proceeding, not made after the defendant has been put in jeopardy and before the verdict or finding on an indictment or information, if the United States attorney certifies to the district court that the appeal is not taken for purpose of delay and that the evidence is a substantial proof of a fact material in the proceeding.
An appeal by the United States shall lie to a court of appeals from a decision or order, entered by a district court of the United States, granting the release of a person charged with or convicted of an offense, or denying a motion for revocation of, or modification of the conditions of, a decision or order granting release.
The appeal in all such cases shall be taken within thirty days after the decision, judgment or order has been rendered and shall be diligently prosecuted.
The provisions of this section shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 844; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 58, 63 Stat. 97; Pub. L. 90–351, title VIII, § 1301, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 237; Pub. L. 91–644, title III, § 14(a), Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1890; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §§ 205, 1206, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1986, 2153; Pub. L. 99–646, § 32, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3598; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330008(4), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2142; Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title III, § 3004, Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1805.)
Historical and Revision Notes
1948 Act
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 682 (Mar. 2, 1907, ch. 2564, 34 Stat. 1246; Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 291, 36 Stat. 1167; Jan. 31, 1928, ch. 14, § 1, 45 Stat. 54; May 9, 1942, ch. 295, § 1, 56 Stat. 271).
The word “dismissing” was substituted for “sustaining a motion to dismiss” in two places for conciseness and clarity, there being no difference in effect of a decision of dismissal whether made on motion or by the court sua sponte.
Minor changes were made to conform to Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. The final sentence authorizing promulgation of rules is omitted as redundant.
1949 Act
This section [section 58] corrects a typographical error in the second paragraph of section 3731 of title 18, U.S.C., and conforms the language of the fifth, tenth, and eleventh paragraphs of such section 3731 with the changed nomenclature of title 28, U.S.C., Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. See sections 41, 43, and 451 of the latter title.
Connections6 cite this · traces to 1
35 references not yet in our index
  • June 25, 1948, ch. 645
  • 62 Stat. 844
  • May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 58
  • 63 Stat. 97
  • Pub. L. 90–351, title VIII, § 1301
  • 82 Stat. 237
  • Pub. L. 91–644, title III, § 14(a)
  • 84 Stat. 1890
  • Pub. L. 98–473, title II
  • 98 Stat. 1986
  • Pub. L. 99–646, § 32
  • 100 Stat. 3598
  • Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330008(4)
  • 108 Stat. 2142
  • Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title III, § 3004
  • 116 Stat. 1805
  • Mar. 2, 1907, ch. 2564
  • 34 Stat. 1246
  • Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 291
  • 36 Stat. 1167
  • Jan. 31, 1928, ch. 14, § 1
  • 45 Stat. 54
  • May 9, 1942, ch. 295, § 1
  • 56 Stat. 271
  • Pub. L. 107–273
  • Pub. L. 103–322
  • Pub. L. 99–646
  • Pub. L. 98–473, § 1206
  • Pub. L. 98–473, § 205
  • Pub. L. 91–644, § 14(a)(1)
  • Pub. L. 91–644, § 14(a)(2)
  • Pub. L. 91–644, § 14(a)
  • Pub. L. 91–644, § 14(a)(3)
  • Pub. L. 90–351
  • Pub. L. 91–644, title III, § 14(b)
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 3731
Appeal by United States
U.S.C.×5
IRM×1
ActJune 25, 1948, ch. 645
Stat.62 Stat. 844
ActMay 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 58
Stat.63 Stat. 97
Pub. L.Pub. L. 90–351, title VIII, § 1301
Cites 36 · showing 6Cited by 6 across 2 sources
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