Securities Lawyer's Deskbook
                         published by The University of Cincinnati College of Law
UC Law logo


Securities Act of 1933





Section 22 -- Jurisdiction of Offenses and Suits


  1. Federal and State courts; venue; service of process; review; removal; costs

    The district courts of the United States and the United States courts of any Territory shall have jurisdiction of offenses and violations under this title and under the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission in respect thereto, and, concurrent with State and Territorial courts, except as provided in section 16 with respect to covered class actions, of all suits in equity and actions at law brought to enforce any liability or duty created by this title. Any such suit or action may be brought in the district wherein the defendant is found or is an inhabitant or transacts business, or in the district where the offer or sale took place, if the defendant participated therein, and process in such cases may be served in any other district of which the defendant is an inhabitant or wherever the defendant may be found. Judgments and decrees so rendered shall be subject to review as provided in sections 1254, 1291, 1292, and 1294 of title 28, United States Code. Except as provided in section 16(c), no case arising under this title and brought in any State court of competent jurisdiction shall be removed to any court of the United States. No costs shall be assessed for or against the Commission in any proceeding under this title brought by or against it in the Supreme Court or such other courts.

  2. Contumacy or refusal to obey subpena; contempt

    In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpena issued to any person, any of the said United States courts, within the jurisdiction of which said person guilty of contumacy or refusal to obey is found or resides, upon application by the Commission may issue to such person an order requiring such person to appear before the Commission, or one of its examiners designated by it, there to produce documentary evidence if so ordered, or there to give evidence touching the matter in question; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by said court as a contempt thereof.

Legislative History


May 27, 1933, ch 38, Title I, § 22, 48 Stat. 86; Aug. 10, 1954, ch 667, Title I, § 11, 68 Stat. 686; Oct. 15, 1970, P.L. 91-452, Title II, § 213, 84 Stat. 929; Dec. 4, 1987, P.L. 100-181, Title II, § 209, 101 Stat. 1253; Nov. 3, 1998, P.L. 105-353, Title I, § 101(a)(3), 112 Stat. 3230.



Notice to Users: The Deskbook is made available with the understanding that the University of Cincinnati College of Law is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. See Terms and Conditions of Use.  UC Brand Ingot

© Copyright 1998-2011, University of Cincinnati, All Rights Reserved
 Contact: ronald.jones@uc.edu