
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 35USC32]

 
                            TITLE 35--PATENTS
 
            PART I--UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
 
         CHAPTER 3--PRACTICE BEFORE PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
 
Sec. 32. Suspension or exclusion from practice

    The Director may, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, 
suspend or exclude, either generally or in any particular case, from 
further practice before the Patent and Trademark Office, any person, 
agent, or attorney shown to be incompetent or disreputable, or guilty of 
gross misconduct, or who does not comply with the regulations 
established under section 2(b)(2)(D) of this title, or who shall, by 
word, circular, letter, or advertising, with intent to defraud in any 
manner, deceive, mislead, or threaten any applicant or prospective 
applicant, or other person having immediate or prospective business 
before the Office. The reasons for any such suspension or exclusion 
shall be duly recorded. The Director shall have the discretion to 
designate any attorney who is an officer or employee of the United 
States Patent and Trademark Office to conduct the hearing required by 
this section. The United States District Court for the District of 
Columbia, under such conditions and upon such proceedings as it by its 
rules determines, may review the action of the Director upon the 
petition of the person so refused recognition or so suspended or 
excluded.

(July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 795; Pub. L. 93-596, Sec. 1, Jan. 2, 
1975, 88 Stat. 1949; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, 
Secs. 4715(c), 4719, 4732(a)(10)(A)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 
1501A-580 to 1501A-582.)


                      Historical and Revision Notes

    Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., Sec. 11 (R.S. 487, amended Feb. 
18, 1922, ch. 58, Sec. 3, 42 Stat. 390).
    See note under section 31.


                               Amendments

    1999--Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, 
Sec. 4732(a)(10)(A)], substituted ``Director'' for ``Commissioner'' in 
first and last sentences.
    Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Sec. 4719], inserted 
before last sentence ``The Director shall have the discretion to 
designate any attorney who is an officer or employee of the United 
States Patent and Trademark Office to conduct the hearing required by 
this section.''
    Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Sec. 4715(c)], 
substituted ``2(b)(2)(D)'' for ``31''.
    1975--Pub. L. 93-596 substituted ``Patent and Trademark Office'' for 
``Patent Office''.


                    Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 106-113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, 
see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Sec. 4731] of Pub. L. 106-113, set out 
as a note under section 1 of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 93-596 effective Jan. 2, 1975, see section 4 of 
Pub. L. 93-596, set out as a note under section 1111 of Title 15, 
Commerce and Trade.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in title 5 section 500.
