
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC2000a-5]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                        CHAPTER 21--CIVIL RIGHTS
 
                  SUBCHAPTER II--PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS
 
Sec. 2000a-5. Civil actions by the Attorney General


(a) Complaint

    Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that 
any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice of 
resistance to the full enjoyment of any of the rights secured by this 
subchapter, and that the pattern or practice is of such a nature and is 
intended to deny the full exercise of the rights herein described, the 
Attorney General may bring a civil action in the appropriate district 
court of the United States by filing with it a complaint (1) signed by 
him (or in his absence the Acting Attorney General), (2) setting forth 
facts pertaining to such pattern or practice, and (3) requesting such 
preventive relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary 
injunction, restraining order or other order against the person or 
persons responsible for such pattern or practice, as he deems necessary 
to insure the full enjoyment of the rights herein described.

(b) Three-judge district court for cases of general public importance: 
        hearing, determination, expedition of action, review by Supreme 
        Court; single judge district court: hearing, determination, 
        expedition of action

    In any such proceeding the Attorney General may file with the clerk 
of such court a request that a court of three judges be convened to hear 
and determine the case. Such request by the Attorney General shall be 
accompanied by a certificate that, in his opinion, the case is of 
general public importance. A copy of the certificate and request for a 
three-judge court shall be immediately furnished by such clerk to the 
chief judge of the circuit (or in his absence, the presiding circuit 
judge of the circuit) in which the case is pending. Upon receipt of the 
copy of such request it shall be the duty of the chief judge of the 
circuit or the presiding circuit judge, as the case may be, to designate 
immediately three judges in such circuit, of whom at least one shall be 
a circuit judge and another of whom shall be a district judge of the 
court in which the proceeding was instituted, to hear and determine such 
case, and it shall be the duty of the judges so designated to assign the 
case for hearing at the earliest practicable date, to participate in the 
hearing and determination thereof, and to cause the case to be in every 
way expedited. An appeal from the final judgment of such court will lie 
to the Supreme Court.
    In the event the Attorney General fails to file such a request in 
any such proceeding, it shall be the duty of the chief judge of the 
district (or in his absence, the acting chief judge) in which the case 
is pending immediately to designate a judge in such district to hear and 
determine the case. In the event that no judge in the district is 
available to hear and determine the case, the chief judge of the 
district, or the acting chief judge, as the case may be, shall certify 
this fact to the chief judge of the circuit (or in his absence, the 
acting chief judge) who shall then designate a district or circuit judge 
of the circuit to hear and determine the case.
    It shall be the duty of the judge designated pursuant to this 
section to assign the case for hearing at the earliest practicable date 
and to cause the case to be in every way expedited.

(Pub. L. 88-352, title II, Sec. 206, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 245.)
