39 USC 3007 – Detention of mail for temporary periods
(a)(1) In preparation for or during the pendency of proceedings under section 3005, the Postal Service may, under the provisions of section 409(d), apply to the district court in any district in which mail is sent or received as part of the alleged scheme, device, lottery, gift enterprise, sweepstakes, skill contest, or facsimile check or in any district in which the defendant is found, for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction under the procedural requirements of rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Terms Used In 39 USC 3007
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Postal Service: means the United States Postal Service established by section 201 of this title. See 39 USC 102
- Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
(2)(A) Upon a proper showing, the court shall enter an order which shall—
(i) remain in effect during the pendency of the statutory proceedings, any judicial review of such proceedings, or any action to enforce orders issued under the proceedings; and
(ii) direct the detention by the postmaster, in any and all districts, of the defendant’s incoming mail and outgoing mail, which is the subject of the proceedings under section 3005.
(B) A proper showing under this paragraph shall require proof of a likelihood of success on the merits of the proceedings under section 3005.
(3) Mail detained under paragraph (2) shall—
(A) be made available at the post office of mailing or delivery for examination by the defendant in the presence of a postal employee; and
(B) be delivered as addressed if such mail is not clearly shown to be the subject of proceedings under section 3005.
(4) No finding of the defendant’s intent to make a false representation or to conduct a lottery is required to support the issuance of an order under this section.
(b) If any order is issued under subsection (a) and the proceedings under section 3005 are concluded with the issuance of an order under that section, any judicial review of the matter shall be in the district in which the order under subsection (a) was issued.
(c) This section does not apply to mail addressed to publishers of newspapers and other periodical publications entitled to a periodical publication rate or to mail addressed to the agents of those publishers.